# 1930–31 FA Cup

The 1930–31 FA Cup was the 56th staging of the world's oldest football cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup. West Bromwich Albion of the Football League Second Division won the competition, beating First Division team Birmingham 2–1 in the final at Wembley, London. In doing so Albion became the first and to date only club to both win the cup and gain promotion in the same year.
Matches were 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 |
| Extra preliminary round | Saturday 6 September 1930 |
| Preliminary round | Saturday 20 September 1930 |
| First qualifying round | Saturday 4 October 1930 |
| Second qualifying round | Saturday 18 October 1930 |
| Third qualifying round | Saturday 1 November 1930 |
| Fourth qualifying round | Saturday 15 November 1930 |
| First round proper | Saturday 29 November 1930 |
| Second round | Saturday 13 December 1930 |
| Third round | Saturday 10 January 1931 |
| Fourth round | Saturday 24 January 1931 |
| Fifth round | Saturday 14 February 1931 |
| Sixth round | Saturday 28 February 1931 |
| Semifinals | Saturday 14 March 1931 |
| Final | Saturday 25 April 1931 |

## Qualifying rounds

Teams that were not members of the Football League competed in the qualifying rounds to secure one of 25 places available in the first round.
The winners from the fourth qualifying round were Scarborough, Jarrow, Workington, Lancaster Town, Rhyl Athletic, Wombwell, Gresley Rovers, Mansfield Town, Newark Town, Scunthorpe & Lindsey United, Gainsborough Trinity, Wellington Town, Peterborough & Fletton United, Kingstonian, Folkestone, Aldershot, Northfleet United, Sittingbourne, Tunbridge Wells Rangers, Walthamstow Avenue, Guildford City, Dulwich Hamlet, Wimbledon, Taunton Town and Merthyr Town.
Those appearing in the competition proper for the first time were Wombwell, Gresley Rovers, Walthamstow Avenue and Taunton Town, while Jarrow had not reached this stage since 1899-1900.
Rhyl Athletic was the most successful club from this season's extra preliminary round, defeating Chester, Macclesfield Town, Witton Albion, Winsford United, Colwyn Bay, and Prescot Cables before going out to Scarborough in the first round proper.

## Results
### First round proper

At this stage clubs from the Football League Third Division North and South joined the 25 non-league clubs that came through the qualifying rounds. Hull City and Brighton & Hove Albion received byes to the third round.
Matches were played on Saturday, 29 November 1930. Six matches were drawn, with replays taking place later the same week.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Chesterfield | 1–2 | Notts County | 29 November 1930 |
| 2 | Nelson | 4–0 | Workington | 29 November 1930 |
| 3 | Rochdale | 1–2 | Doncaster Rovers | 29 November 1930 |
| 4 | Walsall | 1–0 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 29 November 1930 |
| 5 | Folkestone | 5–3 | Sittingbourne | 29 November 1930 |
| 6 | Gillingham | 7–2 | Guildford City | 29 November 1930 |
| 7 | Crewe Alexandra | 1–0 | Jarrow | 29 November 1930 |
| 8 | Lincoln City | 8–3 | Barrow | 29 November 1930 |
| 9 | Luton Town | 2–2 | Clapton Orient | 29 November 1930 |
| Replay | Clapton Orient | 2–4 | Luton Town | 4 December 1930 |
| 10 | Gainsborough Trinity | 1–0 | Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 29 November 1930 |
| 11 | Scarborough | 6–0 | Rhyl Athletic | 29 November 1930 |
| 12 | Wrexham | 2–0 | Wigan Borough | 29 November 1930 |
| 13 | Ilford | 1–6 | Brentford | 29 November 1930 |
| 14 | Tranmere Rovers | 4–4 | Gateshead | 29 November 1930 |
| Replay | Gateshead | 3–2 | Tranmere Rovers | 3 December 1930 |
| 15 | Wellington Town | 0–0 | Wombwell | 29 November 1930 |
| Replay | Wombwell | 0–3 | Wellington Town | 4 December 1930 |
| 16 | Queens Park Rangers | 5–0 | Thames | 29 November 1930 |
| 17 | Fulham | 1–1 | Wimbledon | 29 November 1930 |
| Replay | Wimbledon | 0–6 | Fulham | 3 December 1930 |
| 18 | Accrington Stanley | 3–1 | Lancaster Town | 29 November 1930 |
| 19 | Bristol Rovers | 4–1 | Merthyr Town | 29 November 1930 |
| 20 | Northampton Town | 1–2 | Coventry City | 29 November 1930 |
| 21 | Norwich City | 2–0 | Swindon Town | 29 November 1930 |
| 22 | Northfleet United | 0–3 | Exeter City | 29 November 1930 |
| 23 | Carlisle United | 3–1 | New Brighton | 29 November 1930 |
| 24 | Tunbridge Wells Rangers | 3–0 | Kingstonian | 29 November 1930 |
| 25 | Crystal Palace | 6–0 | Taunton Town | 29 November 1930 |
| 26 | Southend United | 0–1 | Torquay United | 29 November 1930 |
| 27 | Hartlepools United | 2–3 | Stockport County | 29 November 1930 |
| 28 | Halifax Town | 2–2 | Mansfield Town | 29 November 1930 |
| Replay | Mansfield Town | 1–2 | Halifax Town | 3 December 1930 |
| 29 | Southport | 4–2 | Darlington | 29 November 1930 |
| 30 | Dulwich Hamlet | 2–2 | Newport County | 29 November 1930 |
| Replay | Newport County | 4–1 | Dulwich Hamlet | 4 December 1930 |
| 31 | Walthamstow Avenue | 1–5 | Watford | 29 November 1930 |
| 32 | York City | 3–1 | Gresley Rovers | 29 November 1930 |
| 33 | Newark Town | 2–1 | Rotherham United | 29 November 1930 |
| 34 | Aldershot | 4–1 | Peterborough & Fletton United | 29 November 1930 |

### Second round proper

The matches were played on Saturday, 13 December 1930. Two matches were drawn, with replays taking place on Thursday, 18 December 1930.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Nelson | 1–1 | York City | 13 December 1930 |
| Replay | York City | 3–2 | Nelson | 18 December 1930 |
| 2 | Watford | 3–1 | Luton Town | 13 December 1930 |
| 3 | Walsall | 4–0 | Newport County | 13 December 1930 |
| 4 | Gillingham | 1–3 | Aldershot | 13 December 1930 |
| 5 | Crewe Alexandra | 2–4 | Queens Park Rangers | 13 December 1930 |
| 6 | Gainsborough Trinity | 0–4 | Southport | 13 December 1930 |
| 7 | Scarborough | 6–4 | Lincoln City | 13 December 1930 |
| 8 | Doncaster Rovers | 0–1 | Notts County | 13 December 1930 |
| 9 | Wellington Town | 2–4 | Wrexham | 13 December 1930 |
| 10 | Fulham | 4–0 | Halifax Town | 13 December 1930 |
| 11 | Accrington Stanley | 0–1 | Torquay United | 13 December 1930 |
| 12 | Brentford | 1–0 | Norwich City | 13 December 1930 |
| 13 | Bristol Rovers | 4–2 | Stockport County | 13 December 1930 |
| 14 | Carlisle United | 4–2 | Tunbridge Wells Rangers | 13 December 1930 |
| 15 | Crystal Palace | 6–0 | Newark Town | 13 December 1930 |
| 16 | Exeter City | 1–1 | Coventry City | 13 December 1930 |
| Replay | Coventry City | 1–2 | Exeter City | 18 December 1930 |
| 17 | Gateshead | 3–2 | Folkestone | 13 December 1930 |

### Third round proper

The 44 First and Second Division clubs entered the competition at this stage, along with Hull City, Brighton & Hove Albion and amateur club Corinthian.
The matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 10 January 1931, though one was postponed until later the same week. Nine matches were drawn, with replays taking place later the same week. Three matches required a second replay; these were all played on Monday, 19 January 1931.
Aldershot and Scarborough were the last teams from the qualifying rounds remaining in the competition.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date | Attendance |
| 1 | Burnley | 3–0 | Manchester City | 10 January 1931 | |
| 2 | Bury | 1–1 | Torquay United | 10 January 1931 | |
| Replay | Torquay United | 1–2 | Bury | 14 January 1931 | |
| 3 | Liverpool | 0–2 | Birmingham City | 10 January 1931 | 43,907 |
| 4 | Leicester City | 1–2 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 10 January 1931 | |
| 5 | Notts County | 3–1 | Swansea Town | 10 January 1931 | |
| 6 | Blackburn Rovers | 1–1 | Walsall | 10 January 1931 | |
| Replay | Walsall | 0–3 | Blackburn Rovers | 15 January 1931 | |
| 7 | Bolton Wanderers | 1–0 | Carlisle United | 10 January 1931 | |
| 8 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 9–1 | Wrexham | 10 January 1931 | |
| 9 | Middlesbrough | 1–1 | Bradford City | 14 January 1931 | |
| Replay | Bradford City | 2–1 | Middlesbrough | 19 January 1931 | |
| 10 | West Bromwich Albion | 2–2 | Charlton Athletic | 10 January 1931 | 27,749 |
| Replay | Charlton Athletic | 1–1 | West Bromwich Albion | 14 January 1931 | |
| 2nd replay | West Bromwich Albion | 2–1 | Charlton Athletic | 19 January 1931 | 36,350 |
| 11 | Sunderland | 2–0 | Southampton | 10 January 1931 | |
| 12 | Scarborough | 1–2 | Grimsby Town | 10 January 1931 | |
| 13 | Sheffield United | 1–1 | York City | 10 January 1931 | |
| Replay | York City | 0–2 | Sheffield United | 14 January 1931 | |
| 14 | Newcastle United | 4–0 | Nottingham Forest | 10 January 1931 | |
| 15 | Tottenham Hotspur | 3–1 | Preston North End | 10 January 1931 | |
| 16 | Fulham | 0–2 | Portsmouth | 10 January 1931 | |
| 17 | Barnsley | 4–1 | Bristol City | 10 January 1931 | |
| 18 | Brentford | 2–2 | Cardiff City | 10 January 1931 | |
| Replay | Cardiff City | 1–2 | Brentford | 14 January 1931 | |
| 19 | Bristol Rovers | 3–1 | Queens Park Rangers | 10 January 1931 | |
| 20 | West Ham United | 1–3 | Chelsea | 10 January 1931 | |
| 21 | Plymouth Argyle | 0–2 | Everton | 10 January 1931 | |
| 22 | Hull City | 1–2 | Blackpool | 10 January 1931 | |
| 23 | Oldham Athletic | 1–3 | Watford | 10 January 1931 | |
| 24 | Crystal Palace | 1–1 | Reading | 10 January 1931 | |
| Replay | Reading | 1–1 | Crystal Palace | 14 January 1931 | |
| 2nd replay | Crystal Palace | 2–0 | Reading | 19 January 1931 | |
| 25 | Exeter City | 3–2 | Derby County | 10 January 1931 | |
| 26 | Arsenal | 2–2 | Aston Villa | 10 January 1931 | 40,864 |
| Replay | Aston Villa | 1–3 | Arsenal | 14 January 1931 | 73,668 |
| 27 | Southport | 3–1 | Millwall | 10 January 1931 | |
| 28 | Leeds United | 2–0 | Huddersfield Town | 10 January 1931 | |
| 29 | Corinthian | 1–3 | Port Vale | 10 January 1931 | |
| 30 | Stoke City | 3–3 | Manchester United | 10 January 1931 | |
| Replay | Manchester United | 0–0 | Stoke City | 14 January 1931 | |
| 2nd replay | Stoke City | 2–4 | Manchester United | 19 January 1931 | |
| 31 | Aldershot | 0–1 | Bradford Park Avenue | 10 January 1931 | |
| 32 | Gateshead | 2–6 | Sheffield Wednesday | 10 January 1931 | |

### Fourth round proper

The matches were played on Saturday, 24 January 1931. Two matches were drawn, the replays being played on Wednesday, 28 January 1931.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date | Attendance |
| 1 | Birmingham City | 2–0 | Port Vale | 24 January 1931 | 39,885 |
| 2 | Bury | 1–2 | Exeter City | 24 January 1931 | |
| 3 | Watford | 2–0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 24 January 1931 | |
| 4 | Blackburn Rovers | 5–1 | Bristol Rovers | 24 January 1931 | |
| 5 | Bolton Wanderers | 1–1 | Sunderland | 24 January 1931 | 36,602 |
| Replay | Sunderland | 3–1 | Bolton Wanderers | 28 January 1931 | 46,914 |
| 6 | Grimsby Town | 1–0 | Manchester United | 24 January 1931 | |
| 7 | West Bromwich Albion | 1–0 | Tottenham Hotspur | 24 January 1931 | 46,850 |
| 8 | Sheffield United | 4–1 | Notts County | 24 January 1931 | |
| 9 | Barnsley | 2–1 | Sheffield Wednesday | 24 January 1931 | |
| 10 | Brentford | 0–1 | Portsmouth | 24 January 1931 | |
| 11 | Bradford City | 0–0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 24 January 1931 | |
| Replay | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 4–2 | Bradford City | 28 January 1931 | |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 0–6 | Everton | 24 January 1931 | 38,000 |
| 13 | Chelsea | 2–1 | Arsenal | 24 January 1931 | 62,945 |
| 14 | Bradford Park Avenue | 2–0 | Burnley | 24 January 1931 | |
| 15 | Southport | 2–1 | Blackpool | 24 January 1931 | |
| 16 | Leeds United | 4–1 | Newcastle United | 24 January 1931 | |

### Fifth round proper

The matches were played on Saturday, 14 February 1931. No replays were necessary.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date | Attendance |
| 1 | Birmingham City | 3–0 | Watford | 14 February 1931 | 49,729 |
| 2 | Sunderland | 2–1 | Sheffield United | 14 February 1931 | 63,016 |
| 3 | Everton | 5–3 | Grimsby Town | 14 February 1931 | 65,534 |
| 4 | Barnsley | 1–3 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 14 February 1931 | |
| 5 | Portsmouth | 0–1 | West Bromwich Albion | 14 February 1931 | 30,981 |
| 6 | Chelsea | 3–0 | Blackburn Rovers | 14 February 1931 | 61,170 |
| 7 | Exeter City | 3–1 | Leeds United | 14 February 1931 | |
| 8 | Southport | 1–0 | Bradford Park Avenue | 14 February 1931 | |

## Final rounds
### Final

The final took place on Saturday, 25 April 1931 at Wembley and ended in a victory for West Bromwich Albion by 2–1, with goals scored by "Ginger" Richardson for West Bromwich Albion and Joe Bradford for Birmingham. The attendance was 92,406.
| West Bromwich Albion | Birmingham City |