# 1926–27 FA Cup

The 1926–27 FA Cup was the 52nd staging of the world's oldest football cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup. Welsh club Cardiff City won the competition for the first time, beating Arsenal 1–0 in the final at Wembley. As of 2024, it is the only FA Cup title won by a club from outside England.
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. Some matches, however, might be rescheduled for other days if there were clashes with games for other competitions or the weather was inclement. 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.

## Calendar

| Round | Date |
| Extra preliminary round | Saturday 4 September 1926 |
| Preliminary round | Saturday 18 September 1926 |
| First round qualifying | Saturday 2 October 1926 |
| Second round qualifying | Saturday 16 October 1926 |
| Third round qualifying | Saturday 30 October 1926 |
| Fourth round qualifying | Saturday 13 November 1926 |
| First round proper | Saturday 27 November 1926 |
| Second round proper | Saturday 11 December 1926 |
| Third round proper | Saturday 8 January 1927 |
| Fourth round proper | Saturday 29 January 1927 |
| Fifth round proper | Saturday 19 February 1927 |
| Sixth round proper | Saturday 5 March 1927 |
| Semi-Finals | Saturday 26 March 1927 |
| Final | Saturday 23 April 1927 |

## Qualifying rounds

Most participating clubs that were not members of the Football League joined the competition in the qualifying rounds.
The 25 winners from this season's fourth qualifying round were Chilton Colliery Recreation, Bishop Auckland, Crook Town, Bedlington United, Annfield Plain, Carlisle United, Workington, Rhyl, Mexborough Athletic, York City, Boston Town, Wellington Town, Mansfield Town, Kettering Town, Desborough Town, Lowestoft Town, Barnet, Chatham, Sittingbourne, Woking, Kingstonian, Barking Town, Nunhead, Poole and Weymouth.
Those featuring at this stage for the first time were Bedlington United, Annfield Plain, Rhyl, York City, Desborough Town, Lowestoft Town, Kingstonian, Barking, Nunhead and Poole, while Woking progressed to the main draw for the first time since 1907-08.
The most successful sides from this season's extra preliminary round were Burscough Rangers and Kidderminster Harriers, who progressed to the third qualifying round before losing to Lancaster Town and Willenhall respectively.

## First round proper

At this stage 40 clubs from the Football League Third Division North and South joined the 25 non-league clubs who came through the qualifying rounds. Millwall and Plymouth Argyle were given byes to the third round, while Durham City and Queens Park Rangers did not enter this season's competition. Two Second Division sides, Reading and Grimsby Town were entered at this stage. To bring the number of participating teams up to 76, nine non-league sides were given byes to this round. These were:
* Clapton
* St Albans City
* London Caledonians
* Northern Nomads
* Stockton
* Northfleet United
* Dulwich Hamlet
* Torquay United
* Worksop Town
Northern Nomads (who were mainly based in Glossop at this time) and Stockton were the champion and finalist from the previous season's FA Amateur Cup.
38 matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 27 November 1926. Eleven matches were drawn and went to replays in the following midweek fixture, of which two went to another replay.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Chesterfield | 2–1 | Mexborough Athletic | 27 November 1926 |
| 2 | Clapton | 1–1 | Brentford | 27 November 1926 |
| Replay | Brentford | 7–3 | Clapton | 1 December 1926 |
| 3 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 1–1 | Swindon Town | 27 November 1926 |
| Replay | Swindon Town | 3–4 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 29 November 1926 |
| 4 | Barking Town | 0–0 | Gillingham | 27 November 1926 |
| Replay | Gillingham | 2–0 | Barking Town | 1 December 1926 |
| 5 | Nelson | 4–1 | Stockport County | 27 November 1926 |
| 6 | Watford | 10–1 | Lowestoft Town | 27 November 1926 |
| 7 | Reading | 4–4 | Weymouth | 27 November 1926 |
| Replay | Reading | 5–0 | Weymouth | 1 December 1926 |
| 8 | Walsall | 1–0 | Bradford Park Avenue | 27 November 1926 |
| 9 | Woking | 1–3 | Charlton Athletic | 27 November 1926 |
| 10 | Chatham | 3–1 | St Albans City | 27 November 1926 |
| 11 | Grimsby Town | 3–2 | Halifax Town | 27 November 1926 |
| 12 | Crewe Alexandra | 4–1 | Northern Nomads | 27 November 1926 |
| 13 | Lincoln City | 2–0 | Rotherham United | 27 November 1926 |
| 14 | Luton Town | 4–2 | London Caledonians | 27 November 1926 |
| 15 | Boston | 1–1 | Northampton Town | 27 November 1926 |
| Replay | Northampton Town | 2–1 | Boston | 2 December 1926 |
| 16 | Stockton | 1–2 | Ashington | 27 November 1926 |
| 17 | Doncaster Rovers | 3–0 | Desborough Town | 2 December 1926 |
| 18 | Wrexham | 1–1 | New Brighton | 27 November 1926 |
| Replay | New Brighton | 2–2 | Wrexham | 1 December 1926 |
| Replay | Wrexham | 3–1 | New Brighton | 6 December 1926 |
| 19 | Bishop Auckland | 0–1 | Bedlington United | 27 November 1926 |
| 20 | Poole | 1–0 | Newport County | 27 November 1926 |
| 21 | Sittingbourne | 1–3 | Northfleet United | 27 November 1926 |
| 22 | Wellington Town | 1–2 | Mansfield Town | 27 November 1926 |
| 23 | Accrington Stanley | 4–3 | Rochdale | 27 November 1926 |
| 24 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 3–0 | Barnet | 27 November 1926 |
| 25 | Carlisle United | 6–2 | Hartlepools United | 27 November 1926 |
| 26 | Nunhead | 9–0 | Kingstonian | 27 November 1926 |
| 27 | Crystal Palace | 0–0 | Norwich City | 27 November 1926 |
| Replay | Norwich City | 1–0 | Crystal Palace | 1 December 1926 |
| 28 | Annfield Plain | 2–4 | Chilton Colliery Recreation | 27 November 1926 |
| 29 | Exeter City | 3–0 | Aberdare Athletic | 27 November 1926 |
| 30 | Merthyr Town | 0–2 | Bristol City | 27 November 1926 |
| 31 | Southport | 1–1 | Tranmere Rovers | 27 November 1926 |
| Replay | Tranmere Rovers | 1–2 | Southport | 2 December 1926 |
| 32 | Dulwich Hamlet | 1–4 | Southend United | 27 November 1926 |
| 33 | Torquay United | 1–1 | Bristol Rovers | 27 November 1926 |
| Replay | Bristol Rovers | 1–0 | Torquay United | 1 December 1926 |
| 34 | Workington | 1–2 | Crook Town | 27 November 1926 |
| 35 | Wigan Borough | 2–2 | Barrow | 2 December 1926 |
| Replay | Barrow | 0–1 | Wigan Borough | 6 December 1926 |
| 36 | York City | 4–1 | Worksop Town | 1 December 1926 |
| 37 | Rhyl | 1–1 | Stoke City | 27 November 1926 |
| Replay | Stoke City | 1–1 | Rhyl | 2 December 1926 |
| Replay | Rhyl | 2–1 | Stoke City | 6 December 1926 |
| 38 | Kettering Town | 2–3 | Coventry City | 27 November 1926 |

## Second round proper

The matches were played on Saturday, 11 December 1926. Three matches were drawn, with replays taking place in the following midweek fixture.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Ashington | 2–1 | Nelson | 11 December 1926 |
| 2 | Bristol City | 1–1 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 11 December 1926 |
| Replay | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 2–0 | Bristol City | 15 December 1926 |
| 3 | Watford | 0–1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 11 December 1926 |
| 4 | Reading | 3–2 | Southend United | 11 December 1926 |
| 5 | Walsall | 2–0 | Mansfield Town | 11 December 1926 |
| 6 | Gillingham | 1–1 | Brentford | 11 December 1926 |
| Replay | Brentford | 1–0 | Gillingham | 15 December 1926 |
| 7 | Grimsby Town | 2–1 | York City | 11 December 1926 |
| 8 | Crewe Alexandra | 4–1 | Wigan Borough | 11 December 1926 |
| 9 | Luton Town | 6–2 | Northfleet United | 11 December 1926 |
| 10 | Doncaster Rovers | 0–1 | Chesterfield | 11 December 1926 |
| 11 | Bristol Rovers | 4–1 | Charlton Athletic | 11 December 1926 |
| 12 | Coventry City | 1–1 | Lincoln City | 11 December 1926 |
| Replay | Lincoln City | 2–1 | Coventry City | 15 December 1926 |
| 13 | Norwich City | 5–0 | Chatham | 11 December 1926 |
| 14 | Carlisle United | 4–0 | Bedlington United | 11 December 1926 |
| 15 | Nunhead | 1–2 | Poole | 11 December 1926 |
| 16 | Exeter City | 1–0 | Northampton Town | 11 December 1926 |
| 17 | Southport | 2–0 | Crook Town | 11 December 1926 |
| 18 | Rhyl | 3–1 | Wrexham | 11 December 1926 |
| 19 | Chilton Colliery Recreation | 0–3 | Accrington Stanley | 11 December 1926 |

## Third round proper

42 of the 44 First and Second Division clubs entered the competition at this stage, along with Third Division Millwall and Plymouth Argyle. Also given a bye to this round of the draw was amateur side Corinthian. Carlisle United, Poole and Rhyl were last teams from the qualifying rounds remaining in the competition.
The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 8 January 1927. Four matches were drawn and went to replays in the following midweek fixture, of which one went to a second replay.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Ashington | 0–2 | Nottingham Forest | 8 January 1927 |
| 2 | Birmingham | 4–1 | Manchester City | 8 January 1927 |
| 3 | Blackpool | 1–3 | Bolton Wanderers | 8 January 1927 |
| 4 | Darlington | 2–1 | Rhyl | 8 January 1927 |
| 5 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 1–1 | Liverpool | 8 January 1927 |
| Replay | Liverpool | 4–1 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 12 January 1927 |
| 6 | Burnley | 3–1 | Grimsby Town | 8 January 1927 |
| 7 | South Shields | 3–1 | Plymouth Argyle | 8 January 1927 |
| 8 | Southampton | 3–0 | Norwich City | 8 January 1927 |
| 9 | Reading | 1–1 | Manchester United | 8 January 1927 |
| Replay | Manchester United | 2–2 | Reading | 12 January 1927 |
| Replay | Reading | 2–1 | Manchester United | 17 January 1927 |
| 10 | Walsall | 0–4 | Corinthian | 8 January 1927 |
| 11 | The Wednesday | 2–0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 8 January 1927 |
| 12 | Middlesbrough | 5–3 | Leicester City | 8 January 1927 |
| 13 | Lincoln City | 2–4 | Preston North End | 8 January 1927 |
| 14 | Everton | 3–1 | Poole | 8 January 1927 |
| 15 | Sheffield United | 2–3 | Arsenal | 8 January 1927 |
| 16 | Newcastle United | 8–1 | Notts County | 8 January 1927 |
| 17 | Fulham | 4–3 | Chesterfield | 8 January 1927 |
| 18 | Barnsley | 6–1 | Crewe Alexandra | 8 January 1927 |
| 19 | Bristol Rovers | 3–3 | Portsmouth | 8 January 1927 |
| Replay | Portsmouth | 4–0 | Bristol Rovers | 12 January 1927 |
| 20 | West Ham United | 3–2 | Tottenham Hotspur | 8 January 1927 |
| 21 | Bradford City | 2–6 | Derby County | 8 January 1927 |
| 22 | Millwall | 3–1 | Huddersfield Town | 8 January 1927 |
| 23 | Hull City | 2–1 | West Bromwich Albion | 8 January 1927 |
| 24 | Carlisle United | 0–2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 8 January 1927 |
| 25 | Clapton Orient | 1–1 | Port Vale | 8 January 1927 |
| Replay | Port Vale | 5–1 | Clapton Orient | 12 January 1927 |
| 26 | Oldham Athletic | 2–4 | Brentford | 10 January 1927 |
| 27 | Chelsea | 4–0 | Luton Town | 8 January 1927 |
| 28 | Exeter City | 0–2 | Accrington Stanley | 8 January 1927 |
| 29 | Cardiff City | 2–1 | Aston Villa | 8 January 1927 |
| 30 | Swansea Town | 4–1 | Bury | 8 January 1927 |
| 31 | Southport | 2–0 | Blackburn Rovers | 8 January 1927 |
| 32 | Leeds United | 3–2 | Sunderland | 8 January 1927 |

## Fourth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 29 January 1927. Five games were drawn and went to replays in the following midweek fixture, of which one went to a second replay.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Darlington | 0–2 | Cardiff City | 29 January 1927 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 3–1 | Southport | 29 January 1927 |
| 3 | Preston North End | 0–3 | Middlesbrough | 29 January 1927 |
| 4 | Southampton | 4–1 | Birmingham | 29 January 1927 |
| 5 | Reading | 3–1 | Portsmouth | 29 January 1927 |
| 6 | The Wednesday | 1–1 | South Shields | 29 January 1927 |
| Replay | South Shields | 1–0 | The Wednesday | 2 February 1927 |
| 7 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–0 | Nottingham Forest | 29 January 1927 |
| 8 | Derby County | 0–2 | Millwall | 29 January 1927 |
| 9 | Fulham | 0–4 | Burnley | 29 January 1927 |
| 10 | Barnsley | 1–3 | Swansea Town | 29 January 1927 |
| 11 | West Ham United | 1–1 | Brentford | 29 January 1927 |
| Replay | Brentford | 2–0 | West Ham United | 2 February 1927 |
| 12 | Hull City | 1–1 | Everton | 29 January 1927 |
| Replay | Everton | 2–2 | Hull City | 2 February 1927 |
| Replay | Hull City | 3–2 | Everton | 7 February 1927 |
| 13 | Chelsea | 7–2 | Accrington Stanley | 29 January 1927 |
| 14 | Port Vale | 2–2 | Arsenal | 29 January 1927 |
| Replay | Arsenal | 1–0 | Port Vale | 2 February 1927 |
| 15 | Leeds United | 0–0 | Bolton Wanderers | 29 January 1927 |
| Replay | Bolton Wanderers | 3–0 | Leeds United | 2 February 1927 |
| 16 | Corinthian | 1–3 | Newcastle United | 29 January 1927 |

## Fifth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 19 February 1927. There was one replay, played in the next midweek fixture.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | South Shields | 2–2 | Swansea Town | 19 February 1927 |
| Replay | Swansea Town | 2–1 | South Shields | 24 February 1927 |
| 2 | Southampton | 2–1 | Newcastle United | 19 February 1927 |
| 3 | Reading | 1–0 | Brentford | 19 February 1927 |
| 4 | Bolton Wanderers | 0–2 | Cardiff City | 19 February 1927 |
| 5 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–0 | Hull City | 19 February 1927 |
| 6 | Millwall | 3–2 | Middlesbrough | 19 February 1927 |
| 7 | Chelsea | 2–1 | Burnley | 19 February 1927 |
| 8 | Arsenal | 2–0 | Liverpool | 19 February 1927 |

## Sixth round proper

The four sixth round ties were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 5 March 1927. There were two replays, played in the following midweek fixture.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Millwall | 0–0 | Southampton | 5 March 1927 |
| Replay | Southampton | 2–0 | Millwall | 9 March 1927 |
| 2 | Chelsea | 0–0 | Cardiff City | 5 March 1927 |
| Replay | Cardiff City | 3–2 | Chelsea | 9 March 1927 |
| 3 | Swansea Town | 1–3 | Reading | 5 March 1927 |
| 4 | Arsenal | 2–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 5 March 1927 |

## Semi-finals

The semi-final matches were played on Saturday, 26 March 1927. Cardiff City and Arsenal went on to meet in the final at Wembley.

## Final

The 1927 FA Cup Final was won by Cardiff City, who beat Arsenal 1–0. It is most remembered for Arsenal goalkeeper Dan Lewis' mistake which led to the only goal of the game. It was also the first ever Cup Final to be broadcast by BBC Radio. Commentators were Derek McCulloch and George Allison, who would later manage Arsenal.

### Match details

| Cardiff City | Arsenal |