# 1928–29 FA Cup

The 1928–29 FA Cup was the 54th season of the world's oldest football cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup. Bolton Wanderers won the competition for the third time, beating Portsmouth 2–0 in the final at Wembley.
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 1 September 1928 |
| Preliminary round | Saturday 15 September 1928 |
| First round qualifying | Saturday 29 September 1928 |
| Second round qualifying | Saturday 13 October 1928 |
| Third round qualifying | Saturday 27 October 1928 |
| Fourth round qualifying | Saturday 10 November 1928 |
| First round proper | Saturday 24 November 1928 |
| Second round proper | Saturday 8 December 1928 |
| Third round proper | Saturday 12 January 1929 |
| Fourth round proper | Saturday 26 January 1929 |
| Fifth round proper | Saturday 16 February 1929 |
| Sixth round proper | Saturday 2 March 1929 |
| Semi-finals | Saturday 23 March 1929 |
| Final | Saturday 27 April 1929 |

## Qualifying rounds

Most participating clubs that were not members of the Football League joined the competition in the qualifying rounds.
The 25 winners from the fourth qualifying round were Scarborough, Annfield Plain, York City, Spennymoor United, Lancaster Town, Horwich RMI, Rhyl Athletic, Gainsborough Trinity, Mansfield Town, Shirebrook, Grantham, Worcester City, Peterborough & Fletton United, Wellingborough Town, Kettering Town, Southall, Ilford, Barking Town, Chatham, Sittingbourne, Dulwich Hamlet, Guildford City, Woking, Poole and Yeovil & Petter's United.
Those featuring at this stage for the first time were Lancaster Town, Horwich RMI, Wellingborough Town, Guildford City and Yeovil & Petter's United, while Scarborough and Grantham had not appeared in the main competition since 1887-88.
Worcester City was the most successful club from this season's extra preliminary round, defeating Whitchurch, Stourbridge, Leamington Town, Oakengates Town, Stafford Rangers and Wellington Town before going out to Walsall in the first round proper.

## First round proper

At this stage 41 clubs from the Football League Third Division North and South joined the 25 non-league clubs who came through the qualifying rounds. Northampton Town and Swindon Town were given byes to the third round, while Nelson did not enter the competition this season. To make the number of matches up, non-league sides Northfleet United and Leyton were given byes to this round, with Leyton again having won the previous season's FA Amateur Cup.
34 matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 24 November 1928. One match was drawn and went to a replay in the following midweek fixture.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Chesterfield | 3–2 | Rochdale | 24 November 1928 |
| 2 | Darlington | 3–0 | New Brighton | 24 November 1928 |
| 3 | Grantham | 1–0 | Rhyl Athletic | 24 November 1928 |
| 4 | Walsall | 3–1 | Worcester City | 24 November 1928 |
| 5 | Gillingham | 0–0 | Torquay United | 24 November 1928 |
| Replay | Torquay United | 5–1 | Gillingham | 28 November 1928 |
| 6 | Leyton | 0–2 | Watford | 24 November 1928 |
| 7 | Luton Town | 5–1 | Southend United | 24 November 1928 |
| 8 | Gainsborough Trinity | 3–1 | Crewe Alexandra | 24 November 1928 |
| 9 | Wrexham | 0–1 | Carlisle United | 24 November 1928 |
| 10 | Poole | 1–4 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 24 November 1928 |
| 11 | Tranmere Rovers | 2–1 | Rotherham United | 24 November 1928 |
| 12 | Stockport County | 1–0 | Halifax Town | 24 November 1928 |
| 13 | Sittingbourne | 2–1 | Southall | 24 November 1928 |
| 14 | Accrington Stanley | 2–1 | South Shields | 24 November 1928 |
| 15 | Brentford | 4–1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 24 November 1928 |
| 16 | Bristol Rovers | 2–1 | Wellingborough Town | 24 November 1928 |
| 17 | Coventry City | 1–4 | Fulham | 24 November 1928 |
| 18 | Norwich City | 6–1 | Chatham | 24 November 1928 |
| 19 | Northfleet United | 5–2 | Ilford | 24 November 1928 |
| 20 | Bradford City | 4–1 | Doncaster Rovers | 24 November 1928 |
| 21 | Crystal Palace | 2–0 | Kettering Town | 24 November 1928 |
| 22 | Spennymoor United | 5–2 | Hartlepools United | 24 November 1928 |
| 23 | Annfield Plain | 1–4 | Southport | 24 November 1928 |
| 24 | Lancaster Town | 1–3 | Lincoln City | 24 November 1928 |
| 25 | Exeter City | 6–0 | Barking Town | 24 November 1928 |
| 26 | Merthyr Town | 4–2 | Dulwich Hamlet | 24 November 1928 |
| 27 | Shirebrook | 2–4 | Mansfield Town | 24 November 1928 |
| 28 | Newport County | 7–0 | Woking | 24 November 1928 |
| 29 | Horwich RMI | 1–2 | Scarborough | 24 November 1928 |
| 30 | Yeovil & Petter's United | 1–4 | Plymouth Argyle | 24 November 1928 |
| 31 | Wigan Borough | 2–0 | Ashington | 24 November 1928 |
| 32 | York City | 0–1 | Barrow | 24 November 1928 |
| 33 | Peterborough & Fletton United | 0–2 | Charlton Athletic | 24 November 1928 |
| 34 | Guildford City | 4–2 | Queens Park Rangers | 24 November 1928 |

## Second round proper

The matches were played on Saturday, 8 December 1928. Two matches were drawn, with replays taking place in the following midweek fixture.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Barrow | 1–2 | Mansfield Town | 8 December 1928 |
| 2 | Watford | 2–0 | Merthyr Town | 8 December 1928 |
| 3 | Walsall | 2–1 | Sittingbourne | 8 December 1928 |
| 4 | Gainsborough Trinity | 2–3 | Chesterfield | 8 December 1928 |
| 5 | Scarborough | 2–2 | Darlington | 8 December 1928 |
| Replay | Darlington | 2–1 | Scarborough | 12 December 1928 |
| 6 | Tranmere Rovers | 0–1 | Bradford City | 8 December 1928 |
| 7 | Stockport County | 3–0 | Southport | 8 December 1928 |
| 8 | Fulham | 0–0 | Luton Town | 8 December 1928 |
| Replay | Luton Town | 4–1 | Fulham | 13 December 1928 |
| 9 | Accrington Stanley | 7–0 | Spennymoor United | 8 December 1928 |
| 10 | Brentford | 0–1 | Plymouth Argyle | 8 December 1928 |
| 11 | Norwich City | 6–0 | Newport County | 8 December 1928 |
| 12 | Northfleet United | 1–5 | Charlton Athletic | 8 December 1928 |
| 13 | Carlisle United | 0–1 | Lincoln City | 8 December 1928 |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 3–1 | Bristol Rovers | 8 December 1928 |
| 15 | Torquay United | 0–1 | Exeter City | 8 December 1928 |
| 16 | Wigan Borough | 2–1 | Grantham | 8 December 1928 |
| 17 | Guildford City | 1–5 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 8 December 1928 |

## Third round proper

The 44 First and Second Division clubs entered the competition at this stage, along with Northampton Town, Swindon Town and amateur side Corinthian. The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 12 January 1929. Eight 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 | Birmingham | 3–1 | Manchester City | 12 January 1929 |
| 2 | Chesterfield | 1–7 | Huddersfield Town | 12 January 1929 |
| 3 | Darlington | 2–6 | Bury | 12 January 1929 |
| 4 | Bristol City | 0–2 | Liverpool | 12 January 1929 |
| 5 | Burnley | 2–1 | Sheffield United | 12 January 1929 |
| 6 | Southampton | 0–0 | Clapton Orient | 12 January 1929 |
| Replay | Clapton Orient | 2–1 | Southampton | 17 January 1929 |
| 7 | Watford | 1–0 | Preston North End | 12 January 1929 |
| 8 | Reading | 2–0 | Tottenham Hotspur | 12 January 1929 |
| 9 | Walsall | 1–1 | Middlesbrough | 12 January 1929 |
| Replay | Middlesbrough | 5–1 | Walsall | 21 January 1929 |
| 10 | Nottingham Forest | 1–2 | Swansea Town | 12 January 1929 |
| 11 | Blackburn Rovers | 1–0 | Barnsley | 12 January 1929 |
| 12 | Aston Villa | 6–1 | Cardiff City | 12 January 1929 |
| 13 | Bolton Wanderers | 2–0 | Oldham Athletic | 12 January 1929 |
| 14 | Grimsby Town | 1–1 | West Bromwich Albion | 12 January 1929 |
| Replay | West Bromwich Albion | 2–0 | Grimsby Town | 16 January 1929 |
| 15 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0–1 | Mansfield Town | 12 January 1929 |
| 16 | Derby County | 4–3 | Notts County | 12 January 1929 |
| 17 | Lincoln City | 0–1 | Leicester City | 12 January 1929 |
| 18 | Luton Town | 0–0 | Crystal Palace | 12 January 1929 |
| Replay | Crystal Palace | 7–0 | Luton Town | 16 January 1929 |
| 19 | Swindon Town | 2–0 | Newcastle United | 12 January 1929 |
| 20 | Accrington Stanley | 1–1 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 12 January 1929 |
| Replay | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 2–0 | Accrington Stanley | 16 January 1929 |
| 21 | Portsmouth | 2–1 | Charlton Athletic | 12 January 1929 |
| 22 | West Ham United | 1–0 | Sunderland | 12 January 1929 |
| 23 | Norwich City | 0–5 | Corinthian | 12 January 1929 |
| 24 | Plymouth Argyle | 3–0 | Blackpool | 12 January 1929 |
| 25 | Bradford City | 2–0 | Stockport County | 12 January 1929 |
| 26 | Millwall | 1–1 | Northampton Town | 12 January 1929 |
| Replay | Northampton Town | 2–2 | Millwall | 17 January 1929 |
| Replay | Millwall | 2–0 | Northampton Town | 21 January 1929 |
| 27 | Hull City | 1–1 | Bradford Park Avenue | 12 January 1929 |
| Replay | Bradford Park Avenue | 3–1 | Hull City | 16 January 1929 |
| 28 | Chelsea | 2–0 | Everton | 12 January 1929 |
| 29 | Exeter City | 2–2 | Leeds United | 12 January 1929 |
| Replay | Leeds United | 5–1 | Exeter City | 16 January 1929 |
| 30 | Port Vale | 0–3 | Manchester United | 12 January 1929 |
| 31 | Arsenal | 2–1 | Stoke City | 12 January 1929 |
| 32 | Wigan Borough | 1–3 | The Wednesday | 12 January 1929 |

## Fourth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 26 January 1929. Five games were drawn and went to replays in the following midweek fixture. Mansfield Town and Corinthian were the only non-league clubs remaining in the competition at this stage.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 6–4 | Watford | 26 January 1929 |
| 2 | Burnley | 3–3 | Swindon Town | 26 January 1929 |
| Replay | Swindon Town | 3–2 | Burnley | 31 January 1929 |
| 3 | Liverpool | 0–0 | Bolton Wanderers | 26 January 1929 |
| Replay | Bolton Wanderers | 5–2 | Liverpool | 31 January 1929 |
| 4 | Reading | 1–0 | The Wednesday | 26 January 1929 |
| 5 | Leicester City | 1–0 | Swansea Town | 26 January 1929 |
| 6 | Blackburn Rovers | 1–1 | Derby County | 26 January 1929 |
| Replay | Derby County | 0–3 | Blackburn Rovers | 31 January 1929 |
| 7 | Aston Villa | 0–0 | Clapton Orient | 26 January 1929 |
| Replay | Clapton Orient | 0–8 | Aston Villa | 31 January 1929 |
| 8 | West Bromwich Albion | 1–0 | Middlesbrough | 26 January 1929 |
| 9 | Portsmouth | 2–0 | Bradford City | 26 January 1929 |
| 10 | West Ham United | 3–0 | Corinthian | 26 January 1929 |
| 11 | Manchester United | 0–1 | Bury | 26 January 1929 |
| 12 | Plymouth Argyle | 0–1 | Bradford Park Avenue | 26 January 1929 |
| 13 | Millwall | 0–0 | Crystal Palace | 26 January 1929 |
| Replay | Crystal Palace | 5–3 | Millwall | 31 January 1929 |
| 14 | Chelsea | 1–0 | Birmingham | 26 January 1929 |
| 15 | Huddersfield Town | 3–0 | Leeds United | 26 January 1929 |
| 16 | Arsenal | 2–0 | Mansfield Town | 26 January 1929 |

## Fifth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 16 February 1929. There were three replays played in the next midweek fixture.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 1–1 | West Ham United | 16 February 1929 |
| Replay | West Ham United | 3–1 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 20 February 1929 |
| 2 | Reading | 1–3 | Aston Villa | 16 February 1929 |
| 3 | Leicester City | 1–2 | Bolton Wanderers | 16 February 1929 |
| 4 | Blackburn Rovers | 1–0 | Bury | 16 February 1929 |
| 5 | West Bromwich Albion | 6–0 | Bradford Park Avenue | 16 February 1929 |
| 6 | Swindon Town | 0–0 | Arsenal | 16 February 1929 |
| Replay | Arsenal | 1–0 | Swindon Town | 20 February 1929 |
| 7 | Chelsea | 1–1 | Portsmouth | 16 February 1929 |
| Replay | Portsmouth | 1–0 | Chelsea | 20 February 1929 |
| 8 | Huddersfield Town | 5–2 | Crystal Palace | 16 February 1929 |

## Sixth round proper

The four quarter-final ties were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 2 March 1929. There were two replays.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Blackburn Rovers | 1–1 | Bolton Wanderers | 2 March 1929 |
| Replay | Bolton Wanderers | 2–1 | Blackburn Rovers | 6 March 1929 |
| 2 | Aston Villa | 1–0 | Arsenal | 2 March 1929 |
| 3 | West Bromwich Albion | 1–1 | Huddersfield Town | 2 March 1929 |
| Replay | Huddersfield Town | 2–1 | West Bromwich Albion | 6 March 1929 |
| 4 | Portsmouth | 3–2 | West Ham United | 2 March 1929 |

## Semi-finals

The semi-final matches were played on Saturday, 23 March 1929. Bolton Wanderers and Portsmouth won their matches to meet in the final at Wembley.

## Final

The 1929 FA Cup Final was contested by Bolton Wanderers and Portsmouth at Wembley. Bolton won 2–0, with goals by Billy Butler and Harry Blackmore.

### Match details

| Bolton Wanderers | Portsmouth |