# 1955–56 FA Cup

The 1955–56 FA Cup was the 75th staging of the world's oldest football cup competition, the FA Cup. Manchester City won the competition, beating Birmingham City 3–1 in the final at Wembley, London.
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 at neutral venues 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 |
| Preliminary round | 10 September 1955 |
| First qualifying round | 24 September 1955 |
| Second qualifying round | 8 October 1955 |
| Third qualifying round | 22 October 1955 |
| Fourth qualifying round | 5 November 1955 |
| First round proper | 19 November 1955 |
| Second round | 10 December 1955 |
| Third round | 7 January 1956 |
| Fourth round | 28 January 1956 |
| Fifth round | 18 February 1956 |
| Sixth round | 3 March 1956 |
| Semifinals | 17 March 1956 |
| Final | 5 May 1956 |

## 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 Shildon, Easington Colliery Welfare, Durham City, Scarborough, Crook Town, Ashton United, Netherfield, Rhyl, Burton Albion, Halesowen Town, Northwich Victoria, Goole Town, Worksop Town, Boston United, Hereford United, Peterborough United, Skegness Town, Bedford Town, March Town United, Southall, Ramsgate Athletic, Margate, Hastings United, Leyton, Wycombe Wanderers, Dorchester Town, Salisbury, Weymouth, Lovell's Athletic and Yeovil Town.
Those appearing in the competition proper for the first time were Easington Colliery Welfare, Halesowen Town, Skegness Town, March Town United, Ramsgate Athletic, Salisbury and Burton Albion. Albion was the fifth club from Burton upon Trent to qualify for the main draw of the FA Cup, following Swifts, Wanderers, United and Town respectively.
Of the others, Shildon and Southall had last featured at this stage in 1936-37, Margate in 1935-36, Wycombe Wanderers in 1932-33, Durham City in 1927-28, Worksop Town in 1926-27 and Northwich Victoria in 1892-93.

## Results
### First round proper

At this stage the 48 Third Division North and South clubs joined the 30 non-league clubs who came through the qualifying rounds along with Bishop Auckland and Hendon, who were given byes to this round as the champions and runners-up from the previous season's FA Amateur Cup.
The matches were played on Saturday, 19 November 1955. Seven matches were drawn, with replays taking place later that week. Two ties needed a second replay, which took place on the following Monday, 28 November 1955.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date | Attendance |
| 1 | Chesterfield | 1–0 | Chester | 19 November 1955 | |
| 2 | Darlington | 0–0 | Carlisle United | 19 November 1955 | |
| Replay | Carlisle United | 0–0 | Darlington | 22 November 1955 | |
| 2nd replay | Darlington | 3–1 | Carlisle United | 28 November 1955 | |
| 3 | Hastings United | 6–1 | Southall | 19 November 1955 | |
| 4 | Barrow | 0–0 | Crewe Alexandra | 19 November 1955 | |
| Replay | Crewe Alexandra | 2–3 | Barrow | 23 November 1955 | |
| 5 | Rochdale | 0–1 | York City | 19 November 1955 | |
| 6 | Watford | 5–3 | Ramsgate Athletic | 19 November 1955 | |
| 7 | Weymouth | 3–2 | Salisbury | 19 November 1955 | |
| 8 | Yeovil Town | 1–1 | Aldershot | 19 November 1955 | |
| Replay | Aldershot | 1–1 | Yeovil Town | 23 November 1955 | |
| 2nd replay | Yeovil Town | 0–3 | Aldershot | 28 November 1955 | |
| 9 | Reading | 1–0 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 19 November 1955 | |
| 10 | Gillingham | 1–1 | Shrewsbury Town | 19 November 1955 | |
| Replay | Shrewsbury Town | 4–1 | Gillingham | 24 November 1955 | |
| 11 | Swindon Town | 4–0 | Hereford United | 19 November 1955 | |
| 12 | Bishop Auckland | 3–1 | Durham City | 19 November 1955 | |
| 13 | Wycombe Wanderers | 1–3 | Burton Albion | 19 November 1955 | |
| 14 | Accrington Stanley | 3–1 | Wrexham | 19 November 1955 | |
| 15 | Brentford | 4–0 | March Town United | 19 November 1955 | |
| 16 | Crook Town | 2–2 | Derby County | 19 November 1955 | |
| Replay | Derby County | 5–1 | Crook Town | 23 November 1955 | |
| 17 | Northampton Town | 4–1 | Millwall | 19 November 1955 | |
| 18 | Coventry City | 0–1 | Exeter City | 19 November 1955 | |
| 19 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 8–1 | Newport County | 19 November 1955 | |
| 20 | Rhyl | 0–3 | Bradford Park Avenue | 19 November 1955 | |
| 21 | Norwich City | 4–0 | Dorchester Town | 19 November 1955 | |
| 22 | Bradford City | 3–1 | Oldham Athletic | 19 November 1955 | |
| 23 | Crystal Palace | 0–0 | Southampton | 19 November 1955 | |
| Replay | Southampton | 2–0 | Crystal Palace | 23 November 1955 | |
| 24 | Goole Town | 1–2 | Halifax Town | 19 November 1955 | |
| 25 | Southend United | 2–0 | Queens Park Rangers | 19 November 1955 | |
| 26 | Hartlepools United | 3–0 | Gateshead | 19 November 1955 | |
| 27 | Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 3–0 | Shildon | 19 November 1955 | |
| 28 | Bedford Town | 3–0 | Leyton | 19 November 1955 | |
| 29 | Mansfield Town | 2–0 | Stockport County | 19 November 1955 | |
| 30 | Margate | 2–2 | Walsall | 19 November 1955 | |
| Replay | Walsall | 6–1 | Margate | 24 November 1955 | |
| 31 | Halesowen Town | 2–4 | Hendon | 19 November 1955 | |
| 32 | Southport | 6–1 | Ashton United | 19 November 1955 | |
| 33 | Torquay United | 2–0 | Colchester United | 19 November 1955 | |
| 34 | Workington | 4–2 | Scarborough | 19 November 1955 | |
| 35 | Netherfield | 1–5 | Grimsby Town | 19 November 1955 | |
| 36 | Easington Colliery Welfare | 0–2 | Tranmere Rovers | 19 November 1955 | |
| 37 | Boston United | 3–2 | Northwich Victoria | 19 November 1955 | |
| 38 | Peterborough United | 3–1 | Ipswich Town | 19 November 1955 | 20,843 |
| 39 | Leyton Orient | 7–1 | Lovells Athletic | 19 November 1955 | |
| 40 | Skegness Town | 0–4 | Worksop Town | 19 November 1955 | |

### Second round proper

The matches were played on Saturday, 10 December 1955. Seven matches were drawn, with replays taking place later that week.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date | Attendance |
| 1 | Chesterfield | 1–2 | Hartlepools United | 10 December 1955 | |
| 2 | Darlington | 0–1 | Accrington Stanley | 10 December 1955 | |
| 3 | Weymouth | 0–1 | Southend United | 10 December 1955 | |
| 4 | Reading | 2–2 | Aldershot | 10 December 1955 | |
| Replay | Aldershot | 3–0 | Reading | 14 December 1955 | |
| 5 | Walsall | 2–1 | Southampton | 10 December 1955 | |
| 6 | Derby County | 1–6 | Boston United | 10 December 1955 | 23,757 |
| 7 | Swindon Town | 1–1 | Peterborough United | 10 December 1955 | |
| Replay | Peterborough United | 1–2 | Swindon Town | 15 December 1955 | |
| 8 | Shrewsbury Town | 0–0 | Torquay United | 10 December 1955 | |
| Replay | Torquay United | 5–1 | Shrewsbury Town | 14 December 1955 | |
| 9 | Bishop Auckland | 0–0 | Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 10 December 1955 | |
| Replay | Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 2–0 | Bishop Auckland | 15 December 1955 | |
| 10 | Tranmere Rovers | 0–3 | Barrow | 10 December 1955 | |
| 11 | Northampton Town | 4–1 | Hastings United | 10 December 1955 | |
| 12 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1–2 | Norwich City | 10 December 1955 | |
| 13 | Bradford City | 2–2 | Worksop Town | 10 December 1955 | |
| Replay | Worksop Town | 1–0 | Bradford City | 15 December 1955 | |
| 14 | Bradford Park Avenue | 4–3 | Workington | 10 December 1955 | |
| 15 | Exeter City | 6–2 | Hendon | 10 December 1955 | |
| 16 | Bedford Town | 3–2 | Watford | 10 December 1955 | |
| 17 | Halifax Town | 0–0 | Burton Albion | 10 December 1955 | |
| Replay | Burton Albion | 1–0 | Halifax Town | 14 December 1955 | |
| 18 | Southport | 0–0 | Grimsby Town | 10 December 1955 | |
| Replay | Grimsby Town | 3–2 | Southport | 14 December 1955 | |
| 19 | York City | 2–1 | Mansfield Town | 10 December 1955 | |
| 20 | Leyton Orient | 4–1 | Brentford | 10 December 1955 | |

### Third round proper

At this stage the 44 Second Division and First Division (top-flight) teams entered the competition.
The matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 7 January 1956, though four were postponed until later that week because of bad weather. Four matches were drawn, with replays taking place later that week. Boston United, Worksop Town, Bedford Town and Burton Albion were the last non-league sides left in the competition.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date | Attendance |
| 1 | Bury | 0–1 | Burnley | 10 January 1956 | |
| 2 | Liverpool | 2–0 | Accrington Stanley | 7 January 1956 | 48,385 |
| 3 | Walsall | 0–1 | Port Vale | 7 January 1956 | 21,836 |
| 4 | Notts County | 0–1 | Fulham | 7 January 1956 | |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 1–1 | Hull City | 7 January 1956 | 33,284 |
| Replay | Hull City | 1–2 | Aston Villa | 12 January 1956 | 24,253 |
| 6 | Sheffield Wednesday | 1–3 | Newcastle United | 7 January 1956 | 48,198 |
| 7 | Bolton Wanderers | 3–0 | Huddersfield Town | 11 January 1956 | 20,862 |
| 8 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–2 | West Bromwich Albion | 7 January 1956 | 55,564 |
| 9 | Sunderland | 4–2 | Norwich City | 7 January 1956 | 46,390 |
| 10 | Lincoln City | 2–3 | Southend United | 7 January 1956 | |
| 11 | Luton Town | 0–4 | Leicester City | 11 January 1956 | |
| 12 | Everton | 3–1 | Bristol City | 7 January 1956 | |
| 13 | Swindon Town | 1–0 | Worksop Town | 7 January 1956 | |
| 14 | Doncaster Rovers | 3–0 | Nottingham Forest | 7 January 1956 | |
| 15 | Sheffield United | 5–0 | Barrow | 7 January 1956 | |
| 16 | Tottenham Hotspur | 4–0 | Boston United | 7 January 1956 | |
| 17 | Manchester City | 2–1 | Blackpool | 11 January 1956 | |
| 18 | Bristol Rovers | 4–0 | Manchester United | 7 January 1956 | 35,872 |
| 19 | Northampton Town | 1–2 | Blackburn Rovers | 7 January 1956 | |
| 20 | Portsmouth | 3–1 | Grimsby Town | 7 January 1956 | |
| 21 | West Ham United | 5–2 | Preston North End | 7 January 1956 | |
| 22 | Bradford Park Avenue | 0–4 | Middlesbrough | 7 January 1956 | |
| 23 | Exeter City | 0–0 | Stoke City | 7 January 1956 | |
| Replay | Stoke City | 3–0 | Exeter City | 9 January 1956 | |
| 24 | Hartlepools United | 0–1 | Chelsea | 7 January 1956 | |
| 25 | Swansea Town | 1–2 | York City | 7 January 1956 | |
| 26 | Charlton Athletic | 7–0 | Burton Albion | 7 January 1956 | |
| 27 | Arsenal | 2–2 | Bedford Town | 7 January 1956 | |
| Replay | Bedford Town | 1–2 | Arsenal | 12 January 1956 | |
| 28 | Leeds United | 1–2 | Cardiff City | 7 January 1956 | |
| 29 | Torquay United | 1–7 | Birmingham City | 7 January 1956 | 18,730 |
| 30 | Rotherham United | 1–1 | Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 7 January 1956 | |
| Replay | Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 4–2 | Rotherham United | 12 January 1956 | |
| 31 | Aldershot | 1–2 | Barnsley | 7 January 1956 | |
| 32 | Leyton Orient | 1–0 | Plymouth Argyle | 7 January 1956 | |

### Fourth round proper

The matches were played on Saturday, 28 January 1956. Four matches were drawn, three of which were settled in a single replay. The fourth, between Burnley and Chelsea, was eventually decided in Chelsea's favour in the fourth replay, played 18 days after the date of the original tie.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date | Attendance |
| 1 | Burnley | 1–1 | Chelsea | 28 January 1956 | |
| Replay | Chelsea | 1–1 | Burnley | 1 February 1956 | |
| 2nd replay | Burnley | 2–2 | Chelsea | 6 February 1956 | |
| 3rd replay | Chelsea | 0–0 | Burnley | 13 February 1956 | |
| 4th replay | Burnley | 0–2 | Chelsea | 15 February 1956 | |
| 2 | Liverpool | 3–3 | Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 28 January 1956 | 53,393 |
| Replay | Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 0–2 | Liverpool | 6 February 1956 | 19,500 |
| 3 | Leicester City | 3–3 | Stoke City | 28 January 1956 | 35,877 |
| Replay | Stoke City | 2–1 | Leicester City | 30 January 1956 | 34,120 |
| 4 | Bolton Wanderers | 1–2 | Sheffield United | 28 January 1956 | 47,105 |
| 5 | West Bromwich Albion | 2–0 | Portsmouth | 28 January 1956 | 59,448 |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 3–1 | Middlesbrough | 28 January 1956 | 41,895 |
| 7 | Fulham | 4–5 | Newcastle United | 28 January 1956 | 39,200 |
| 8 | Barnsley | 0–1 | Blackburn Rovers | 28 January 1956 | |
| 9 | Bristol Rovers | 1–1 | Doncaster Rovers | 28 January 1956 | |
| Replay | Doncaster Rovers | 1–0 | Bristol Rovers | 31 January 1956 | |
| 10 | West Ham United | 2–1 | Cardiff City | 28 January 1956 | |
| 11 | Southend United | 0–1 | Manchester City | 28 January 1956 | |
| 12 | Port Vale | 2–3 | Everton | 28 January 1956 | 44,278 |
| 13 | Charlton Athletic | 2–1 | Swindon Town | 28 January 1956 | |
| 14 | Arsenal | 4–1 | Aston Villa | 28 January 1956 | 43,052 |
| 15 | York City | 0–0 | Sunderland | 28 January 1956 | 22,000 |
| Replay | Sunderland | 2–1 | York City | 1 February 1956 | 43,928 |
| 16 | Leyton Orient | 0–4 | Birmingham City | 28 January 1956 | 24,727 |

### Fifth round proper

The matches were played on Saturday, 18 February 1956. Three matches were drawn, with replays taking place later that week.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date | Attendance |
| 1 | West Bromwich Albion | 0–1 | Birmingham City | 18 February 1956 | 58,213 |
| 2 | Everton | 1–0 | Chelsea | 18 February 1956 | 61,572 |
| 3 | Doncaster Rovers | 0–2 | Tottenham Hotspur | 18 February 1956 | 30,436 |
| 4 | Sheffield United | 0–0 | Sunderland | 18 February 1956 | 51,516 |
| Replay | Sunderland | 1–0 | Sheffield United | 22 February 1956 | 39,883 |
| 5 | Newcastle United | 2–1 | Stoke City | 18 February 1956 | 61,550 |
| 6 | Manchester City | 0–0 | Liverpool | 18 February 1956 | 70,640 |
| Replay | Liverpool | 1–2 | Manchester City | 22 February 1956 | 57,528 |
| 7 | West Ham United | 0–0 | Blackburn Rovers | 18 February 1956 | |
| Replay | Blackburn Rovers | 2–3 | West Ham United | 23 February 1956 | |
| 8 | Charlton Athletic | 0–2 | Arsenal | 18 February 1956 | 71,758 |

## Final rounds
### Final

The final took place on Saturday, 5 May 1956 at Wembley and ended 3–1, with goals scored by Joe Hayes, Bobby Johnstone and Jack Dyson for Manchester City and Noel Kinsey for Birmingham City. The attendance was 100,000. The match is remembered for an incident where Manchester City goalkeeper Bert Trautmann sustained a neck injury diving at the feet of Birmingham attacker Peter Murphy; he completed the game in considerable pain, and later examination discovered he had broken a bone in his neck.
| Manchester City | Birmingham City |