# 1965–66 FA Cup

The 1965–66 FA Cup was the 85th staging of the world's oldest football cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup. Everton won the competition for the third time, beating Sheffield Wednesday 3–2 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 |
| First qualifying round | Saturday 4 September 1965 |
| Second qualifying round | Saturday 18 September 1965 |
| Third qualifying round | Saturday 2 October 1965 |
| Fourth qualifying round | Saturday 16 October 1965 |
| First round proper | Saturday 13 November 1965 |
| Second round | Saturday 4 December 1965 |
| Third round | Saturday 22 January 1966 |
| Fourth round | Saturday 12 February 1966 |
| Fifth round | Saturday 5 March 1966 |
| Sixth round | Saturday 26 March 1966 |
| Semi-finals | Saturday 23 April 1966 |
| Final | Saturday 14 May 1966 |

## 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 Gateshead, South Shields, Crook Town, Scarborough, Wigan Athletic, Altrincham, Fleetwood, South Liverpool, Hereford United, Kidderminster Harriers, Burton Albion, Grantham, Wisbech Town, Corby Town, Wellingborough Town, Bedford Town, Dartford, Folkestone Town, Gravesend & Northfleet, Leytonstone, Romford, Wimbledon, Guildford City, Wycombe Wanderers, Corinthian-Casuals, Wealdstone, Yeovil Town, Bath City, Merthyr Tydfil and Weymouth.
Corinthian-Casuals was the only qualifying club appearing in the main competition for the first time, although the two predecessor outfits Corinthian and Casuals had both featured at this stage prior to their merger in 1939. Of the others, Burton Albion had last progressed through to the first round in 1956-57, Leytonstone in 1952-53, Fleetwood and Wealdstone in 1949-50, and Wellingborough Town in 1928-29.

## Results
### 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 main draw, Hendon and Barnet received byes to this round, Hendon as the champions from the previous season's FA Amateur Cup and Barnet as the best-performed non-league club in the previous FA Cup tournament.
Matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 13 November 1965. Seven were drawn and went to replays two, four or five days later.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Chesterfield | 0–2 | Chester | 13 November 1965 |
| 2 | Darlington | 3–2 | Bradford City | 13 November 1965 |
| 3 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 0–0 | Weymouth | 13 November 1965 |
| Replay | Weymouth | 1–4 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 17 November 1965 |
| 4 | Barnet | 0–2 | Dartford | 13 November 1965 |
| 5 | Barrow | 1–2 | Grimsby Town | 13 November 1965 |
| 6 | Bath City | 2–0 | Newport County | 13 November 1965 |
| 7 | Grantham | 4–1 | Hendon | 13 November 1965 |
| 8 | Reading | 3–2 | Bristol Rovers | 13 November 1965 |
| 9 | Walsall | 6–3 | Swansea Town | 13 November 1965 |
| 10 | Fleetwood | 2–2 | Rochdale | 13 November 1965 |
| Replay | Rochdale | 5–0 | Fleetwood | 17 November 1965 |
| 11 | Gillingham | 1–2 | Folkestone Town | 13 November 1965 |
| 12 | Crewe Alexandra | 3–0 | Scunthorpe United | 13 November 1965 |
| 13 | Lincoln City | 1–3 | Barnsley | 13 November 1965 |
| 14 | Swindon Town | 5–1 | Merthyr Tydfil | 13 November 1965 |
| 15 | Shrewsbury Town | 2–1 | Torquay United | 13 November 1965 |
| 16 | Doncaster Rovers | 2–2 | Wigan Athletic | 13 November 1965 |
| Replay | Wigan Athletic | 3–1 | Doncaster Rovers | 17 November 1965 |
| 17 | Wrexham | 4–1 | South Liverpool | 13 November 1965 |
| 18 | Tranmere Rovers | 0–1 | Stockport County | 13 November 1965 |
| 19 | Leytonstone | 0–1 | Hereford United | 13 November 1965 |
| 20 | Brentford | 2–1 | Yeovil Town | 13 November 1965 |
| 21 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 10–1 | Wisbech Town | 13 November 1965 |
| 22 | Millwall | 3–1 | Wealdstone | 13 November 1965 |
| 23 | Wimbledon | 4–1 | Gravesend & Northfleet | 13 November 1965 |
| 24 | Altrincham | 6–0 | Scarborough | 13 November 1965 |
| 25 | Southend United | 3–1 | Notts County | 13 November 1965 |
| 26 | Bradford Park Avenue | 2–3 | Hull City | 13 November 1965 |
| 27 | Exeter City | 1–2 | Bedford Town | 13 November 1965 |
| 28 | Hartlepools United | 3–1 | Workington | 13 November 1965 |
| 29 | Mansfield Town | 1–3 | Oldham Athletic | 13 November 1965 |
| 30 | Southport | 2–0 | Halifax Town | 13 November 1965 |
| 31 | Aldershot | 2–1 | Wellingborough Town | 13 November 1965 |
| 32 | Guildford City | 2–2 | Wycombe Wanderers | 13 November 1965 |
| Replay | Wycombe Wanderers | 0–1 | Guildford City | 17 November 1965 |
| 33 | Romford | 1–1 | Luton Town | 13 November 1965 |
| Replay | Luton Town | 1–0 | Romford | 18 November 1965 |
| 34 | Gateshead | 4–2 | Crook Town | 13 November 1965 |
| 35 | Peterborough United | 2–1 | Kidderminster Harriers | 13 November 1965 |
| 36 | South Shields | 3–1 | York City | 13 November 1965 |
| 37 | Colchester United | 3–3 | Queens Park Rangers | 13 November 1965 |
| Replay | Queens Park Rangers | 4–0 | Colchester United | 17 November 1965 |
| 38 | Corby Town | 6–3 | Burton Albion | 13 November 1965 |
| 39 | Oxford United | 2–2 | Port Vale | 13 November 1965 |
| Replay | Port Vale | 3–2 | Oxford United | 15 November 1965 |
| 40 | Corinthian-Casuals | 1–5 | Watford | 13 November 1965 |

### Second round

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 4 December 1965. Four matches were drawn, with replays taking place later the same week. The Rochdale–Altrincham game was played midweek on 8 December, however.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Chester | 2–1 | Wigan Athletic | 4 December 1965 |
| 2 | Darlington | 0–1 | Oldham Athletic | 4 December 1965 |
| 3 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 5–3 | Bath City | 4 December 1965 |
| 4 | Grantham | 1–6 | Swindon Town | 4 December 1965 |
| 5 | Rochdale | 1–3 | Altrincham | 8 December 1965 |
| 6 | Reading | 5–0 | Brentford | 4 December 1965 |
| 7 | Crewe Alexandra | 3–1 | South Shields | 4 December 1965 |
| 8 | Shrewsbury Town | 3–2 | Peterborough United | 4 December 1965 |
| 9 | Queens Park Rangers | 3–0 | Guildford City | 4 December 1965 |
| 10 | Barnsley | 1–1 | Grimsby Town | 4 December 1965 |
| Replay | Grimsby Town | 2–0 | Barnsley | 8 December 1965 |
| 11 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1–1 | Bedford Town | 4 December 1965 |
| Replay | Bedford Town | 2–1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 6 December 1965 |
| 12 | Wimbledon | 0–1 | Folkestone Town | 4 December 1965 |
| 13 | Southend United | 2–1 | Watford | 4 December 1965 |
| 14 | Hartlepools United | 2–0 | Wrexham | 4 December 1965 |
| 15 | Port Vale | 1–0 | Dartford | 4 December 1965 |
| 16 | Southport | 3–3 | Stockport County | 4 December 1965 |
| Replay | Stockport County | 0–2 | Southport | 13 December 1965 |
| 17 | Hereford United | 1–0 | Millwall | 4 December 1965 |
| 18 | Aldershot | 0–2 | Walsall | 4 December 1965 |
| 19 | Gateshead | 0–4 | Hull City | 4 December 1965 |
| 20 | Corby Town | 2–2 | Luton Town | 4 December 1965 |
| Replay | Luton Town | 0–1 | Corby Town | 7 December 1965 |

### Third round

The 44 First and Second Division clubs entered the competition at this stage. The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 22 January 1966. Six matches were drawn and went to replays.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Blackpool | 1–1 | Manchester City | 22 January 1966 |
| Replay | Manchester City | 3–1 | Blackpool | 24 January 1966 |
| 2 | Chester | 1–3 | Newcastle United | 22 January 1966 |
| 3 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 1–1 | Burnley | 22 January 1966 |
| Replay | Burnley | 7–0 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 25 January 1966 |
| 4 | Liverpool | 1–2 | Chelsea | 22 January 1966 |
| 5 | Reading | 2–3 | Sheffield Wednesday | 22 January 1966 |
| 6 | Folkestone Town | 1–5 | Crewe Alexandra | 22 January 1966 |
| 7 | Blackburn Rovers | 3–0 | Arsenal | 22 January 1966 |
| 8 | Aston Villa | 1–2 | Leicester City | 22 January 1966 |
| 9 | Bolton Wanderers | 3–0 | West Bromwich Albion | 22 January 1966 |
| 10 | Grimsby Town | 0–0 | Portsmouth | 22 January 1966 |
| Replay | Portsmouth | 1–3 | Grimsby Town | 26 January 1966 |
| 11 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 5–0 | Altrincham | 22 January 1966 |
| 12 | Derby County | 2–5 | Manchester United | 22 January 1966 |
| 13 | Everton | 3–0 | Sunderland | 22 January 1966 |
| 14 | Swindon Town | 1–2 | Coventry City | 22 January 1966 |
| 15 | Sheffield United | 3–1 | Fulham | 22 January 1966 |
| 16 | Tottenham Hotspur | 4–0 | Middlesbrough | 22 January 1966 |
| 17 | Queens Park Rangers | 0–0 | Shrewsbury Town | 22 January 1966 |
| Replay | Shrewsbury Town | 1–0 | Queens Park Rangers | 26 January 1966 |
| 18 | Northampton Town | 1–2 | Nottingham Forest | 22 January 1966 |
| 19 | Plymouth Argyle | 6–0 | Corby Town | 22 January 1966 |
| 20 | Hull City | 1–0 | Southampton | 22 January 1966 |
| 21 | Carlisle United | 3–0 | Crystal Palace | 22 January 1966 |
| 22 | Oldham Athletic | 2–2 | West Ham United | 22 January 1966 |
| Replay | West Ham United | 2–1 | Oldham Athletic | 24 January 1966 |
| 23 | Huddersfield Town | 3–1 | Hartlepools United | 24 January 1966 |
| 24 | Bedford Town | 2–1 | Hereford United | 22 January 1966 |
| 25 | Cardiff City | 2–1 | Port Vale | 26 January 1966 |
| 26 | Charlton Athletic | 2–3 | Preston North End | 22 January 1966 |
| 27 | Southport | 0–0 | Ipswich Town | 22 January 1966 |
| Replay | Ipswich Town | 2–3 | Southport | 25 January 1966 |
| 28 | Leeds United | 6–0 | Bury | 22 January 1966 |
| 29 | Stoke City | 0–2 | Walsall | 22 January 1966 |
| 30 | Rotherham United | 3–2 | Southend United | 22 January 1966 |
| 31 | Birmingham City | 3–2 | Bristol City | 22 January 1966 |
| 32 | Leyton Orient | 1–3 | Norwich City | 22 January 1966 |

### Fourth round

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 12 February 1966. Five matches were drawn and went to replays. The replays were all played two, three or four days later. The Shrewsbury Town–Carlisle United match went to a second replay at Deepdale on 21 February. Bedford Town was the last non-league club left in the competition.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Bolton Wanderers | 1–1 | Preston North End | 12 February 1966 |
| Replay | Preston North End | 3–2 | Bolton Wanderers | 14 February 1966 |
| 2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3–0 | Sheffield United | 12 February 1966 |
| 3 | Crewe Alexandra | 1–1 | Coventry City | 12 February 1966 |
| Replay | Coventry City | 4–1 | Crewe Alexandra | 14 February 1966 |
| 4 | Shrewsbury Town | 0–0 | Carlisle United | 12 February 1966 |
| Replay | Carlisle United | 1–1 | Shrewsbury Town | 15 February 1966 |
| Replay | Shrewsbury Town | 4–3 | Carlisle United | 21 February 1966 |
| 5 | Newcastle United | 1–2 | Sheffield Wednesday | 12 February 1966 |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 4–3 | Burnley | 12 February 1966 |
| 7 | Manchester City | 2–0 | Grimsby Town | 12 February 1966 |
| 8 | West Ham United | 3–3 | Blackburn Rovers | 12 February 1966 |
| Replay | Blackburn Rovers | 4–1 | West Ham United | 16 February 1966 |
| 9 | Manchester United | 0–0 | Rotherham United | 12 February 1966 |
| Replay | Rotherham United | 0–1 | Manchester United | 15 February 1966 |
| 10 | Norwich City | 3–2 | Walsall | 12 February 1966 |
| 11 | Plymouth Argyle | 0–2 | Huddersfield Town | 12 February 1966 |
| 12 | Hull City | 2–0 | Nottingham Forest | 12 February 1966 |
| 13 | Chelsea | 1–0 | Leeds United | 12 February 1966 |
| 14 | Bedford Town | 0–3 | Everton | 12 February 1966 |
| 15 | Southport | 2–0 | Cardiff City | 12 February 1966 |
| 16 | Birmingham City | 1–2 | Leicester City | 12 February 1966 |

### Fifth round

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 5 March 1966. Two games required replays on the following Wednesday.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Preston North End | 2–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 5 March 1966 |
| 2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–4 | Manchester United | 5 March 1966 |
| 3 | Everton | 3–0 | Coventry City | 5 March 1966 |
| 4 | Manchester City | 2–2 | Leicester City | 5 March 1966 |
| Replay | Leicester City | 0–1 | Manchester City | 9 March 1966 |
| 5 | Norwich City | 2–2 | Blackburn Rovers | 5 March 1966 |
| Replay | Blackburn Rovers | 3–2 | Norwich City | 9 March 1966 |
| 6 | Hull City | 2–0 | Southport | 5 March 1966 |
| 7 | Chelsea | 3–2 | Shrewsbury Town | 5 March 1966 |
| 8 | Huddersfield Town | 1–2 | Sheffield Wednesday | 5 March 1966 |

### Sixth round

The four quarter-final ties were scheduled to be played on 26 March 1966. Three of the four matches went to replays and the Manchester City–Everton game required a second replay to settle the tie.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Preston North End | 1–1 | Manchester United | 26 March 1966 |
| Replay | Manchester United | 3–1 | Preston North End | 30 March 1966 |
| 2 | Blackburn Rovers | 1–2 | Sheffield Wednesday | 26 March 1966 |
| 3 | Manchester City | 0–0 | Everton | 26 March 1966 |
| Replay | Everton | 0–0 | Manchester City | 29 March 1966 |
| Replay | Everton | 2–0 | Manchester City | 5 April 1966 |
| 4 | Chelsea | 2–2 | Hull City | 26 March 1966 |
| Replay | Hull City | 1–3 | Chelsea | 31 March 1966 |

### Semi-finals

The semi-final matches were played on Saturday, 23 April 1966 with no replays required. Everton and Sheffield Wednesday came through the semi-final round to meet at Wembley.

### Final

The 1966 FA Cup final was contested by Sheffield Wednesday and Everton at Wembley on Saturday 14 May 1966. Everton were looking to become the first team since Bury won in 1903 to win the cup without conceding a goal, while Sheffield Wednesday were the second Yorkshire side in succession to reach Wembley, following Leeds United's losing appearance in the 1965 final. The match finished 3–2 to Everton.
| Everton | Sheffield Wednesday |