# 1953–54 FA Cup

The 1953–54 FA Cup was the 73rd staging of the world's oldest football cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup. West Bromwich Albion won the competition for the fourth time, beating Preston North End 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 |
| Preliminary round | Saturday 12 September 1953 |
| First qualifying round | Saturday 26 September 1953 |
| Second qualifying round | Saturday 10 October 1953 |
| Third qualifying round | Saturday 24 October 1953 |
| Fourth qualifying round | Saturday 7 November 1953 |
| First round proper | Saturday 21 November 1953 |
| Second round | Saturday 12 December 1953 |
| Third round | Saturday 9 January 1954 |
| Fourth round | Saturday 30 January 1954 |
| Fifth round | Saturday 20 February 1954 |
| Sixth round | Saturday 13 March 1954 |
| Semifinals | Saturday 27 March 1954 |
| Final | Saturday 1 May 1954 |

## 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 Blyth Spartans, Ferryhill Athletic, Spennymoor United, Horden Colliery Welfare, Scarborough, Wigan Athletic, Rhyl, Nelson, Witton Albion, Nuneaton Borough, Wellington Town, Selby Town, Gainsborough Trinity, Boston United, Hereford United, Kettering Town, Peterborough United, Bedford Town, Cambridge United, Great Yarmouth Town, Hitchin Town, Finchley, Headington United, Guildford City, Hastings United, Newport (IOW), Llanelli, Bath City, Yeovil Town and Weymouth.
Coincidentally, the two clubs appearing in the competition proper for the first time were Headington United - later to be known as Oxford United - and Cambridge United. However, Hitchin Town was featuring at this stage for the first time in their own right after predecessor club Hitchin FC had last appeared in the main draw in 1887-88. Of the others, Wigan Athletic was advancing from the qualifying rounds for the first time since 1937-38 and Ferryhill Athletic for the first time since 1935-36.
Hastings United and Headington United were the most successful qualifying clubs, participating in eight rounds of the tournament each. Hastings defeated Shoreham, Horsham, Eastbourne, Ashford Town (Kent), Hounslow Town, Guildford City and Swindon Town before losing to Norwich City in the third round; while Headington defeated Aylesbury United, Maidenhead United, Chesham United, Wealdstone, Harwich & Parkeston, Millwall and Stockport County before losing to Bolton Wanderers in the fourth round.

## First round proper

At this stage the 48 clubs from the Football League Third Division North and South joined the 30 non-league clubs who came through the qualifying rounds. The final two non-league sides in the draw, Harwich & Parkeston and Walthamstow Avenue, were given byes to this round. Harwich & Parkeston were the runners-up from the previous season's FA Amateur Cup, but the bye was passed on to them as the champions Pegasus did not compete in the FA Cup.
Matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 21 November 1953. Seven were drawn and went to replays.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Darlington | 1–3 | Port Vale | 21 November 1953 |
| 2 | Hastings United | 1–0 | Guildford City | 21 November 1953 |
| 3 | Bath City | 0–3 | Walsall | 21 November 1953 |
| 4 | Finchley | 1–3 | Southend United | 21 November 1953 |
| 5 | Southampton | 1–1 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 21 November 1953 |
| Replay | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 3–1 | Southampton | 25 November 1953 |
| 6 | Weymouth | 2–0 | Bedford Town | 21 November 1953 |
| 7 | Yeovil Town | 0–2 | Norwich City | 21 November 1953 |
| 8 | Grimsby Town | 2–0 | Rochdale | 21 November 1953 |
| 9 | Crewe Alexandra | 0–0 | Bradford City | 21 November 1953 |
| Replay | Bradford City | 0–1 | Crewe Alexandra | 25 November 1953 |
| 10 | Gainsborough Trinity | 1–4 | Chesterfield | 21 November 1953 |
| 11 | Swindon Town | 2–1 | Newport (IOW) | 21 November 1953 |
| 12 | Ipswich Town | 4–1 | Reading | 21 November 1953 |
| 13 | Stockport County | 4–2 | Chester | 21 November 1953 |
| 14 | Queens Park Rangers | 2–0 | Shrewsbury Town | 21 November 1953 |
| 15 | Barnsley | 5–2 | York City | 21 November 1953 |
| 16 | Northampton Town | 3–0 | Llanelli | 21 November 1953 |
| 17 | Harwich & Parkeston | 2–3 | Headington United | 21 November 1953 |
| 18 | Great Yarmouth Town | 1–0 | Crystal Palace | 21 November 1953 |
| 19 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 5–1 | Coventry City | 21 November 1953 |
| 20 | Spennymoor United | 0–3 | Barrow | 21 November 1953 |
| 21 | Hitchin Town | 1–3 | Peterborough United | 21 November 1953 |
| 22 | Witton Albion | 4–1 | Nelson | 21 November 1953 |
| 23 | Exeter City | 1–1 | Hereford United | 21 November 1953 |
| Replay | Hereford United | 2–0 | Exeter City | 26 November 1953 |
| 24 | Hartlepools United | 1–1 | Mansfield Town | 21 November 1953 |
| Replay | Mansfield Town | 0–3 | Hartlepools United | 25 November 1953 |
| 25 | Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 9–0 | Boston United | 21 November 1953 |
| 26 | Blyth Spartans | 0–1 | Accrington Stanley | 21 November 1953 |
| 27 | Halifax Town | 0–0 | Rhyl | 21 November 1953 |
| Replay | Rhyl | 4–3 | Halifax Town | 26 November 1953 |
| 28 | Southport | 1–0 | Carlisle United | 21 November 1953 |
| 29 | Selby Town | 0–2 | Bradford Park Avenue | 21 November 1953 |
| 30 | Torquay United | 1–3 | Bristol City | 21 November 1953 |
| 31 | Workington | 3–0 | Ferryhill Athletic | 21 November 1953 |
| 32 | Walthamstow Avenue | 1–0 | Gillingham | 21 November 1953 |
| 33 | Aldershot | 5–3 | Wellington Town | 21 November 1953 |
| 34 | Horden Colliery Welfare | 0–1 | Wrexham | 21 November 1953 |
| 35 | Gateshead | 1–2 | Tranmere Rovers | 21 November 1953 |
| 36 | Wigan Athletic | 4–0 | Scarborough | 21 November 1953 |
| 37 | Colchester United | 1–1 | Millwall | 21 November 1953 |
| Replay | Millwall | 4–0 | Colchester United | 23 November 1953 |
| 38 | Leyton Orient | 3–0 | Kettering Town | 21 November 1953 |
| 39 | Nuneaton Borough | 3–0 | Watford | 21 November 1953 |
| 40 | Cambridge United | 2–2 | Newport County | 21 November 1953 |
| Replay | Newport County | 1–2 | Cambridge United | 26 November 1953 |

## Second round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 12 December 1953. Eight matches were drawn, with replays taking place later the same week. The Wrexham–Brighton & Hove Albion match went to a second replay, which finished in Wrexham's favour. Cambridge United and Bradford Park Avenue were meeting in competition for the first time, with Bradford winning this encounter some 16 years before being replaced by Cambridge in the Football League.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Hastings United | 4–1 | Swindon Town | 12 December 1953 |
| 2 | Barrow | 5–2 | Great Yarmouth Town | 12 December 1953 |
| 3 | Walsall | 3–0 | Crewe Alexandra | 12 December 1953 |
| 4 | Wrexham | 1–1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 12 December 1953 |
| Replay | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1–1 | Wrexham | 16 December 1953 |
| Replay | Wrexham | 3–1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 21 December 1953 |
| 5 | Ipswich Town | 2–2 | Walthamstow Avenue | 12 December 1953 |
| Replay | Walthamstow Avenue | 0–1 | Ipswich Town | 16 December 1953 |
| 6 | Stockport County | 2–1 | Workington | 12 December 1953 |
| 7 | Queens Park Rangers | 1–1 | Nuneaton Borough | 12 December 1953 |
| Replay | Nuneaton Borough | 1–2 | Queens Park Rangers | 17 December 1953 |
| 8 | Accrington Stanley | 2–2 | Tranmere Rovers | 12 December 1953 |
| Replay | Tranmere Rovers | 5–1 | Accrington Stanley | 16 December 1953 |
| 9 | Northampton Town | 1–1 | Hartlepools United | 12 December 1953 |
| Replay | Hartlepools United | 1–0 | Northampton Town | 16 December 1953 |
| 10 | Rhyl | 0–3 | Bristol City | 12 December 1953 |
| 11 | Norwich City | 2–1 | Barnsley | 12 December 1953 |
| 12 | Millwall | 3–3 | Headington United | 12 December 1953 |
| Replay | Headington United | 1–0 | Millwall | 17 December 1953 |
| 13 | Witton Albion | 1–1 | Grimsby Town | 12 December 1953 |
| Replay | Grimsby Town | 6–1 | Witton Albion | 15 December 1953 |
| 14 | Southend United | 1–2 | Chesterfield | 12 December 1953 |
| 15 | Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 1–0 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 12 December 1953 |
| 16 | Southport | 1–1 | Port Vale | 12 December 1953 |
| Replay | Port Vale | 2–0 | Southport | 14 December 1953 |
| 17 | Wigan Athletic | 4–1 | Hereford United | 12 December 1953 |
| 18 | Peterborough United | 2–1 | Aldershot | 12 December 1953 |
| 19 | Leyton Orient | 4–0 | Weymouth | 12 December 1953 |
| 20 | Cambridge United | 1–2 | Bradford Park Avenue | 12 December 1953 |

## Third round proper

The 44 First and Second Division clubs entered the competition at this stage.
The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 9 January 1954. Fifteen matches were drawn and went to replays, with three of these requiring a second replay. The Blackpool–Luton Town match then went to a third replay, which was won by Blackpool.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Blackpool | 1–1 | Luton Town | 9 January 1954 |
| Replay | Luton Town | 0–0 | Blackpool | 13 January 1954 |
| Replay | Blackpool | 1–1 | Luton Town | 18 January 1954 |
| Replay | Luton Town | 0–2 | Blackpool | 25 January 1954 |
| 2 | Chesterfield | 2–0 | Bury | 9 January 1954 |
| 3 | Hastings United | 3–3 | Norwich City | 9 January 1954 |
| Replay | Norwich City | 3–0 | Hastings United | 13 January 1954 |
| 4 | Barrow | 2–2 | Swansea Town | 9 January 1954 |
| Replay | Swansea Town | 4–2 | Barrow | 14 January 1954 |
| 5 | Bristol City | 1–3 | Rotherham United | 9 January 1954 |
| 6 | Burnley | 5–3 | Manchester United | 9 January 1954 |
| 7 | Sheffield Wednesday | 1–1 | Sheffield United | 9 January 1954 |
| Replay | Sheffield United | 1–3 | Sheffield Wednesday | 13 January 1954 |
| 8 | Bolton Wanderers | 1–0 | Liverpool | 9 January 1954 |
| 9 | Grimsby Town | 5–5 | Fulham | 9 January 1954 |
| Replay | Fulham | 3–1 | Grimsby Town | 18 January 1954 |
| 10 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–2 | Birmingham City | 9 January 1954 |
| 11 | Middlesbrough | 0–0 | Leicester City | 9 January 1954 |
| Replay | Leicester City | 3–2 | Middlesbrough | 14 January 1954 |
| 12 | West Bromwich Albion | 1–0 | Chelsea | 9 January 1954 |
| 13 | Sunderland | 0–2 | Doncaster Rovers | 9 January 1954 |
| 14 | Derby County | 0–2 | Preston North End | 9 January 1954 |
| 15 | Lincoln City | 1–1 | Walsall | 9 January 1954 |
| Replay | Walsall | 1–1 | Lincoln City | 14 January 1954 |
| Replay | Lincoln City | 2–1 | Walsall | 18 January 1954 |
| 16 | Everton | 2–1 | Notts County | 9 January 1954 |
| 17 | Wrexham | 3–3 | Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 9 January 1954 |
| Replay | Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 3–1 | Wrexham | 14 January 1954 |
| 18 | Ipswich Town | 3–3 | Oldham Athletic | 9 January 1954 |
| Replay | Oldham Athletic | 0–1 | Ipswich Town | 12 January 1954 |
| 19 | Tranmere Rovers | 2–2 | Leyton Orient | 9 January 1954 |
| Replay | Leyton Orient | 4–1 | Tranmere Rovers | 14 January 1954 |
| 20 | Stockport County | 0–0 | Headington United | 9 January 1954 |
| Replay | Headington United | 1–0 | Stockport County | 14 January 1954 |
| 21 | Newcastle United | 2–2 | Wigan Athletic | 9 January 1954 |
| Replay | Wigan Athletic | 2–3 | Newcastle United | 13 January 1954 |
| 22 | Queens Park Rangers | 0–1 | Port Vale | 9 January 1954 |
| 23 | Brentford | 0–0 | Hull City | 9 January 1954 |
| Replay | Hull City | 2–2 | Brentford | 14 January 1954 |
| Replay | Brentford | 2–5 | Hull City | 18 January 1954 |
| 24 | Bristol Rovers | 0–1 | Blackburn Rovers | 9 January 1954 |
| 25 | Portsmouth | 3–3 | Charlton Athletic | 9 January 1954 |
| Replay | Charlton Athletic | 2–3 | Portsmouth | 14 January 1954 |
| 26 | West Ham United | 4–0 | Huddersfield Town | 9 January 1954 |
| 27 | Plymouth Argyle | 2–0 | Nottingham Forest | 9 January 1954 |
| 28 | Bradford Park Avenue | 2–5 | Manchester City | 9 January 1954 |
| 29 | Cardiff City | 3–1 | Peterborough United | 9 January 1954 |
| 30 | Arsenal | 5–1 | Aston Villa | 9 January 1954 |
| 31 | Leeds United | 3–3 | Tottenham Hotspur | 9 January 1954 |
| Replay | Tottenham Hotspur | 1–0 | Leeds United | 13 January 1954 |
| 32 | Stoke City | 6–2 | Hartlepool United | 9 January 1954 |

## Fourth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 30 January 1954, with two matches taking place on later dates. Six matches were drawn and went to replays, which were all played in the following midweek fixture. The Scunthorpe & Lindsey–Portsmouth match went to a second replay. Headington United was the last non-league club left in the competition.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Burnley | 1–1 | Newcastle United | 30 January 1954 |
| Replay | Newcastle United | 1–0 | Burnley | 3 February 1954 |
| 2 | Blackburn Rovers | 2–2 | Hull City | 30 January 1954 |
| Replay | Hull City | 2–1 | Blackburn Rovers | 4 February 1954 |
| 3 | Sheffield Wednesday | 0–0 | Chesterfield | 30 January 1954 |
| Replay | Chesterfield | 2–4 | Sheffield Wednesday | 3 February 1954 |
| 4 | West Bromwich Albion | 4–0 | Rotherham United | 30 January 1954 |
| 5 | Lincoln City | 0–2 | Preston North End | 30 January 1954 |
| 6 | Everton | 3–0 | Swansea Town | 30 January 1954 |
| 7 | Ipswich Town | 1–0 | Birmingham City | 30 January 1954 |
| 8 | Manchester City | 0–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 30 January 1954 |
| 9 | West Ham United | 1–1 | Blackpool | 30 January 1954 |
| Replay | Blackpool | 3–1 | West Ham United | 3 February 1954 |
| 10 | Plymouth Argyle | 0–2 | Doncaster Rovers | 30 January 1954 |
| 11 | Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 1–1 | Portsmouth | 30 January 1954 |
| Replay | Portsmouth | 2–2 | Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 3 February 1954 |
| Replay | Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 0–4 | Portsmouth | 8 February 1954 |
| 12 | Cardiff City | 0–2 | Port Vale | 30 January 1954 |
| 13 | Arsenal | 1–2 | Norwich City | 30 January 1954 |
| 14 | Stoke City | 0–0 | Leicester City | 30 January 1954 |
| Replay | Leicester City | 3–1 | Stoke City | 2 February 1954 |
| 15 | Headington United | 2–4 | Bolton Wanderers | 30 January 1954 |
| 16 | Leyton Orient | 2–1 | Fulham | 30 January 1954 |

## Fifth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 20 February 1954. Two matches went to replays in the following mid-week fixture.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Preston North End | 6–1 | Ipswich Town | 20 February 1954 |
| 2 | Sheffield Wednesday | 3–1 | Everton | 20 February 1954 |
| 3 | Bolton Wanderers | 0–0 | Portsmouth | 20 February 1954 |
| Replay | Portsmouth | 1–2 | Bolton Wanderers | 24 February 1954 |
| 4 | West Bromwich Albion | 3–2 | Newcastle United | 20 February 1954 |
| 5 | Norwich City | 1–2 | Leicester City | 20 February 1954 |
| 6 | Hull City | 1–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 20 February 1954 |
| Replay | Tottenham Hotspur | 2–0 | Hull City | 24 February 1954 |
| 7 | Port Vale | 2–0 | Blackpool | 20 February 1954 |
| 8 | Leyton Orient | 3–1 | Doncaster Rovers | 20 February 1954 |

## Sixth round proper

The four quarter-final ties were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 13 March 1954. Two matches went to replays, with the Leicester City–Preston North End match going to a second replay.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Leicester City | 1–1 | Preston North End | 13 March 1954 |
| Replay | Preston North End | 2–2 | Leicester City | 17 March 1954 |
| Replay | Leicester City | 1–3 | Preston North End | 22 March 1954 |
| 2 | Sheffield Wednesday | 1–1 | Bolton Wanderers | 13 March 1954 |
| Replay | Bolton Wanderers | 0–2 | Sheffield Wednesday | 17 March 1954 |
| 3 | West Bromwich Albion | 3–0 | Tottenham Hotspur | 13 March 1954 |
| 4 | Leyton Orient | 0–1 | Port Vale | 13 March 1954 |

## Semifinals

The semi-final matches were played on Saturday, 27 March 1954. Preston North End and West Bromwich Albion won their ties to meet in the final at Wembley.

## Final

The 1954 FA Cup final was contested by West Bromwich Albion and Preston North End at Wembley. West Brom won 3–2, with goals from Ronnie Allen (2) and Frank Griffin. Angus Morrison and Charlie Wayman scored for Preston.

### Match details

| West Bromwich Albion | Preston North End |