1961–62 FA Cup


The 1961–62 FA Cup was the 81st staging of the world's oldest football cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup. Tottenham Hotspur won the competition for the fourth time, beating Burnley 3–1 in the final at Wembley. In doing so, they became the first team to retain the FA Cup since Newcastle United's victory in 1952, and the fourth team ever to do so.
Matches were scheduled to be played at the stadium of the team named first on the date specified for each round, which was always a Saturday. If scores were level after 90 minutes had been played, a replay would take place at the stadium of the second-named team later the same week. If the replayed match was drawn further replays would be held until a winner was determined. If scores were level after 90 minutes had been played in a replay, a 30-minute period of extra time would be played.

Qualifying rounds

Most participating clubs that were not members of the Football League competed in the qualifying rounds to secure one of 30 places available in the first round.
The winners from the fourth qualifying round were Blyth Spartans, Shildon, Ashington, South Shields, Morecambe, Rhyl, Northwich Victoria, Brierley Hill Alliance, Hereford United, Grantham, Worksop Town, Gateshead, Kettering Town, Romford, Chelmsford City, King's Lynn, Barnet, Tunbridge Wells United, Harwich & Parkeston, Ashford Town (Kent), Margate, Dartford, Wycombe Wanderers, Banbury Spencer, Oxford United, Weymouth, Bridgwater Town, Weston-Super-Mare, Yeovil Town and Barry Town.
Those appearing in the competition proper for the first time were Brierley Hill Alliance and Weston-Super-Mare. Of the others, Ashington had last featured at this stage in 1952–53, Barry Town in 1951-52, Dartford in 1950-51, Grantham in 1949-50 and Banbury Spencer in 1947-48.
Morecambe participated in seven rounds of this season's tournament, defeating Clitheroe, Penrith, Burscough, Wigan Athletic, South Shields and Chester before going out to Weymouth in a rare third round All-Non League tie.

First round proper

At this stage the 48 clubs from the Football League Third and Fourth Divisions joined the 30 non-league clubs who came through the qualifying rounds. The final two non-league sides in the draw were Walthamstow Avenue and West Auckland Town, who were given byes to this round as the champions and runners-up from the previous season's FA Amateur Cup.
Matches were scheduled to be played on 4 November 1961, although three games were not played until the midweek fixture. Nine were drawn and went to replays, with Peterborough United and Colchester United requiring a second replay which was played at Carrow Road.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Chester4–1Ashington4 November 1961
2Darlington0–4Carlisle United4 November 1961
3Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic0–3Margate4 November 1961
4Bristol City1–1Hereford United4 November 1961
ReplayHereford United2–5Bristol City8 November 1961
5Rochdale2–0Halifax Town4 November 1961
6Weymouth1–0Barnet4 November 1961
7Reading1–1Newport County4 November 1961
ReplayNewport County1–0Reading6 November 1961
8Notts County4–2Yeovil Town4 November 1961
9Crewe Alexandra2–0Lincoln City4 November 1961
10Swindon Town2–2Kettering Town4 November 1961
ReplayKettering Town3–0Swindon Town8 November 1961
11Shrewsbury Town7–1Banbury Spencer4 November 1961
12Doncaster Rovers0–4Chesterfield4 November 1961
13Wrexham3–2Barrow4 November 1961
14Brierley Hill Alliance3–0Grantham4 November 1961
15Tranmere Rovers2–3Gateshead4 November 1961
16Stockport County0–1Accrington Stanley4 November 1961
17Wycombe Wanderers0–0Ashford Town (Kent)4 November 1961
ReplayAshford Town (Kent)3–0Wycombe Wanderers8 November 1961
18Brentford3–0Oxford United4 November 1961
19Northampton Town2–0Millwall4 November 1961
20Coventry City2–0Gillingham4 November 1961
21Bradford City1–0York City4 November 1961
22Hull City5–0Rhyl4 November 1961
23Oldham Athletic5–2Shildon4 November 1961
24West Auckland Town3–3Barnsley4 November 1961
ReplayBarnsley2–0West Auckland Town8 November 1961
25Crystal Palace3–0Portsmouth4 November 1961
26Southend United0–2Watford4 November 1961
27Bradford Park Avenue0–1Port Vale4 November 1961
28Exeter City3–3Dartford4 November 1961
ReplayDartford2–1Exeter City8 November 1961
29Hartlepools United5–1Blyth Spartans4 November 1961
30Mansfield Town3–2Grimsby Town4 November 1961
31Southport1–0Northwich Victoria4 November 1961
32Morecambe2–1South Shields4 November 1961
33Torquay United5–1Harwich & Parkeston4 November 1961
34Workington2–0Worksop Town4 November 1961
35Walthamstow Avenue2–3Romford4 November 1961
36Aldershot3–1Tunbridge Wells United4 November 1961
37Peterborough United3–3Colchester United4 November 1961
ReplayColchester United2–2Peterborough United6 November 1961
ReplayPeterborough United3–0Colchester United13 November 1961
38Chelmsford City1–2King's Lynn4 November 1961
39Barry Town1–1Queens Park Rangers4 November 1961
ReplayQueens Park Rangers7–0Barry Town6 November 1961
40Bridgwater Town0–0Weston-Super-Mare4 November 1961
ReplayWeston-Super-Mare0–1Bridgwater Town9 November 1961

Second round proper

The matches were scheduled for 25 November 1961. Four matches were drawn, with replays taking place later the same week.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Ashford Town (Kent)0–3Queens Park Rangers25 November 1961
2Chester0–1Morecambe25 November 1961
3Chesterfield2–2Oldham Athletic25 November 1961
ReplayOldham Athletic4–2Chesterfield29 November 1961
4Bristol City8–2Dartford25 November 1961
5Rochdale1–2Wrexham25 November 1961
6Weymouth1–0Newport County25 November 1961
7Crewe Alexandra1–1Port Vale25 November 1961
ReplayPort Vale3–0Crewe Alexandra27 November 1961
8Shrewsbury Town3–0Brierley Hill Alliance25 November 1961
9Barnsley1–2Carlisle United25 November 1961
10Northampton Town3–0Kettering Town25 November 1961
11Coventry City1–2King's Lynn25 November 1961
12Hull City0–2Bradford City25 November 1961
13Hartlepools United2–1Accrington Stanley25 November 1961
14Margate1–1Notts County25 November 1961
ReplayNotts County3–1Margate30 November 1961
15Southport4–2Mansfield Town25 November 1961
16Torquay United1–4Peterborough United25 November 1961
17Aldershot2–2Brentford25 November 1961
ReplayBrentford2–0Aldershot28 November 1961
18Romford1–3Watford25 November 1961
19Gateshead0–2Workington25 November 1961
20Bridgwater Town0–3Crystal Palace25 November 1961

Third round proper

The 44 First and Second Division clubs entered the competition at this stage. The matches were scheduled for 6 January 1962, with seven matches postponed until later dates. Ten matches were drawn and went to replays, with two of these requiring a second replay.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Blackpool0–0West Bromwich Albion6 January 1962
ReplayWest Bromwich Albion2–1Blackpool10 January 1962
2Bristol City0–0Walsall6 January 1962
ReplayWalsall4–1Bristol City9 January 1962
3Burnley6–1Queens Park Rangers6 January 1962
4Bury0–0Sheffield United6 January 1962
ReplaySheffield United2–2Bury10 January 1962
ReplayBury0–2Sheffield United15 January 1962
5Liverpool4–3Chelsea6 January 1962
6Preston North End3–2Watford6 January 1962
7Southampton2–2Sunderland6 January 1962
ReplaySunderland3–0Southampton10 January 1962
8Leicester City1–1Stoke City10 January 1962
ReplayStoke City5–2Leicester City15 January 1962
9Notts County0–1Manchester City6 January 1962
10Aston Villa4–3Crystal Palace6 January 1962
11Sheffield Wednesday1–0Swansea Town9 January 1962
12Wolverhampton Wanderers3–1Carlisle United8 January 1962
13Middlesbrough1–0Cardiff City10 January 1962
14Everton4–0King's Lynn6 January 1962
15Ipswich Town1–1Luton Town6 January 1962
ReplayLuton Town1–1Ipswich Town10 January 1962
ReplayIpswich Town5–1Luton Town15 January 1962
16Newcastle United0–1Peterborough United6 January 1962
17Fulham3–1Hartlepools United6 January 1962
18Brentford1–1Leyton Orient6 January 1962
ReplayLeyton Orient2–1Brentford8 January 1962
19Bristol Rovers1–1Oldham Athletic6 January 1962
ReplayOldham Athletic2–0Bristol Rovers10 January 1962
20Brighton & Hove Albion0–3Blackburn Rovers6 January 1962
21Manchester United2–1Bolton Wanderers6 January 1962
22Norwich City3–1Wrexham10 January 1962
23Plymouth Argyle3–0West Ham United6 January 1962
24Huddersfield Town4–3Rotherham United9 January 1962
25Port Vale3–1Northampton Town6 January 1962
26Charlton Athletic1–0Scunthorpe United6 January 1962
27Arsenal3–0Bradford City6 January 1962
28Southport1–3Shrewsbury Town9 January 1962
29Morecambe0–1Weymouth6 January 1962
30Leeds United2–2Derby County6 January 1962
ReplayDerby County3–1Leeds United10 January 1962
31Workington1–2Nottingham Forest6 January 1962
32Birmingham City3–3Tottenham Hotspur6 January 1962
ReplayTottenham Hotspur4–2Birmingham City10 January 1962

Fourth round proper

The matches were scheduled for 27 January 1962, with three Lancashire-based games postponed until the midweek fixtures. Five matches were drawn and went to replays, which were all played in the following midweek match. Weymouth was the last non-league club left in the competition.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Burnley1–1Leyton Orient30 January 1962
ReplayLeyton Orient0–1Burnley6 February 1962
2Preston North End2–0Weymouth29 January 1962
3Nottingham Forest0–2Sheffield Wednesday27 January 1962
4Aston Villa2–1Huddersfield Town27 January 1962
5Wolverhampton Wanderers1–2West Bromwich Albion27 January 1962
6Sunderland0–0Port Vale27 January 1962
ReplayPort Vale3–1Sunderland31 January 1962
7Everton2–0Manchester City27 January 1962
8Shrewsbury Town2–2Middlesbrough27 January 1962
ReplayMiddlesbrough5–1Shrewsbury Town31 January 1962
9Fulham2–2Walsall27 January 1962
ReplayWalsall0–2Fulham30 January 1962
10Manchester United1–0Arsenal31 January 1962
11Norwich City1–1Ipswich Town27 January 1962
ReplayIpswich Town1–2Norwich City30 January 1962
12Plymouth Argyle1–5Tottenham Hotspur27 January 1962
13Oldham Athletic1–2Liverpool27 January 1962
14Charlton Athletic2–1Derby County27 January 1962
15Stoke City0–1Blackburn Rovers27 January 1962
16Peterborough United1–3Sheffield United27 January 1962

Fifth round proper

The matches were scheduled for 17 February 1962. Two matches went to replays in the following mid-week fixtures, with the Liverpool–Preston North End game requiring a second replay before the tie was settled.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Burnley3–1Everton17 February 1962
2Liverpool0–0Preston North End17 February 1962
ReplayPreston North End0–0Liverpool20 February 1962
ReplayLiverpool0–1Preston North End26 February 1962
3Blackburn Rovers2–1Middlesbrough17 February 1962
4Aston Villa2–1Charlton Athletic17 February 1962
5West Bromwich Albion2–4Tottenham Hotspur17 February 1962
6Sheffield United3–1Norwich City17 February 1962
7Fulham1–0Port Vale17 February 1962
8Manchester United0–0Sheffield Wednesday17 February 1962
ReplaySheffield Wednesday0–2Manchester United21 February 1962

Sixth round proper

The four quarter-final ties were scheduled to be played on 10 March 1962. Two matches went to replays on the 14th before being settled.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Preston North End0–0Manchester United10 March 1962
ReplayManchester United2–1Preston North End14 March 1962
2Sheffield United0–1Burnley10 March 1962
3Tottenham Hotspur2–0Aston Villa10 March 1962
4Fulham2–2Blackburn Rovers10 March 1962
ReplayBlackburn Rovers0–1Fulham14 March 1962

Semi-finals

The semi-final matches were played on 31 March 1962 with a replay being required between Burnley and Fulham on 9 April 1962. Tottenham and Burnley came through the semi-final round to meet at Wembley.

Final

The 1962 FA Cup final took place on 5 May 1962 at Wembley Stadium and was won by Tottenham Hotspur over Burnley, by a 3–1 scoreline. Due to the lack of passion and excitement, replaced by patience and cautious play, the final was dubbed "The Chessboard Final". Tottenham took to the field as holders, having won the League and FA Cup Double in 1961.