# 1927–28 FA Cup

The 1927–28 FA Cup was the 53rd staging of the world's oldest football cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup. Blackburn Rovers won the competition for the sixth and (as of 2024) final time, beating Huddersfield Town 3–1 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 3 September 1927 |
| Preliminary round | Saturday 17 September 1927 |
| First round qualifying | Saturday 1 October 1927 |
| Second round qualifying | Saturday 15 October 1927 |
| Third round qualifying | Saturday 29 October 1927 |
| Fourth round qualifying | Saturday 12 November 1927 |
| First round proper | Saturday 26 November 1927 |
| Second round proper | Saturday 10 December 1927 |
| Third round proper | Saturday 14 January 1928 |
| Fourth round proper | Saturday 28 January 1928 |
| Fifth round proper | Saturday 18 February 1928 |
| Sixth round proper | Saturday 3 March 1928 |
| Semi-finals | Saturday 24 March 1928 |
| Final | Saturday 21 April 1928 |

## Qualifying rounds

Most participating clubs that were not members of the Football League entered the competition in the qualifying rounds. For this tournament, they were joined by Football League Third Division North side Barrow, who were entered in the fourth qualifying round after the FA reduced the size of the first round proper from 38 matches to 34.
The fourth qualifying round remained unchanged at 25 matches, and this season's winners were Stockton, Spennymoor United, Crook Town, Shildon, Workington (who defeated Barrow 3-1 at Lonsdale Park to gain their place in the main draw), Carlisle United, Rhyl, Oswestry Town, Denaby United, Gainsborough Trinity, Shirebrook, Peterborough & Fletton United, Wellington Town, Kettering Town, Southall, Botwell Mission, Clapton, Dartford, Ilford, Chatham, Dulwich Hamlet, London Caledonians, Aldershot, Poole and Bath City.
Those featuring at this stage for the first time were Spennymoor United, Denaby United, Shirebrook, Peterborough & Fletton United, Botwell Mission (who would change their name to Hayes midway through the following season), Dartford and Aldershot, while Oswestry Town had not appeared in the main competition since 1887-88.
Bath City also became the first club in the competition's history to progress from the extra preliminary round to the second round proper (although Hednesford Town and Thornycrofts (Woolston) had played more matches in reaching the first round proper in 1919-20). Bath defeated Melksham, Spencer Moulton, the team from the 5th Royal Tank Regiment, Swindon Corinthians, Welton Rovers, Lovell's Athletic and Southall before going out to London Caledonians. Spennymoor United progressed from the extra preliminary round to the main draw as well, but lost to Rotherham United in the first round proper.

## First round proper

At this stage 40 clubs from the Football League Third Division North and South joined the 25 non-league clubs who came through the qualifying rounds. Millwall and Brentford were given byes to the third round while Torquay United did not enter the competition this season. To make the number of matches up, non-league sides Northfleet United, Aberdare Athletic and Leyton were given byes to this round, with Leyton having won the previous season's FA Amateur Cup and Aberdare Athletic having only recently been voted out of the Football League (in favour of Torquay).
34 matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 26 November 1927. Six matches were drawn and went to replays in the following midweek fixture.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Darlington | 4–1 | Chesterfield | 26 November 1927 |
| 2 | Dartford | 1–3 | Crystal Palace | 26 November 1927 |
| 3 | Bath City | 2–0 | Southall | 26 November 1927 |
| 4 | Nelson | 0–3 | Bradford Park Avenue | 26 November 1927 |
| 5 | Rochdale | 8–2 | Crook Town | 26 November 1927 |
| 6 | Watford | 1–2 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 30 November 1927 |
| 7 | Gillingham | 2–1 | Plymouth Argyle | 26 November 1927 |
| 8 | Crewe Alexandra | 2–2 | Ashington | 26 November 1927 |
| Replay | Ashington | 0–2 | Crewe Alexandra | 30 November 1927 |
| 9 | Luton Town | 9–0 | Clapton | 30 November 1927 |
| 10 | Gainsborough Trinity | 6–0 | Stockton | 26 November 1927 |
| 11 | Ilford | 4–0 | Dulwich Hamlet | 26 November 1927 |
| 12 | Poole | 1–1 | Norwich City | 26 November 1927 |
| Replay | Norwich City | 5–0 | Poole | 1 December 1927 |
| 13 | Stockport County | 5–2 | Oswestry Town | 26 November 1927 |
| 14 | Accrington Stanley | 2–5 | Lincoln City | 26 November 1927 |
| 15 | Bristol Rovers | 4–2 | Walsall | 26 November 1927 |
| 16 | Northampton Town | 8–0 | Leyton | 26 November 1927 |
| 17 | Coventry City | 2–2 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 26 November 1927 |
| Replay | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 2–0 | Coventry City | 30 November 1927 |
| 18 | Denaby United | 2–3 | Southport | 26 November 1927 |
| 19 | Shildon | 1–3 | New Brighton | 26 November 1927 |
| 20 | Northfleet United | 0–1 | London Caledonians | 26 November 1927 |
| 21 | Bradford City | 6–0 | Workington | 26 November 1927 |
| 22 | Carlisle United | 2–1 | Doncaster Rovers | 26 November 1927 |
| 23 | Spennymoor United | 1–1 | Rotherham United | 26 November 1927 |
| Replay | Rotherham United | 4–2 | Spennymoor United | 1 December 1927 |
| 24 | Southend United | 1–0 | Wellington Town | 26 November 1927 |
| 25 | Exeter City | 9–1 | Aberdare Athletic | 26 November 1927 |
| 26 | Merthyr Town | 0–0 | Charlton Athletic | 26 November 1927 |
| Replay | Charlton Athletic | 2–1 | Merthyr Town | 30 November 1927 |
| 27 | Halifax Town | 3–0 | Hartlepools United | 26 November 1927 |
| 28 | Shirebrook | 1–3 | Tranmere Rovers | 26 November 1927 |
| 29 | Newport County | 0–1 | Swindon Town | 26 November 1927 |
| 30 | Durham City | 1–1 | Wrexham | 26 November 1927 |
| Replay | Wrexham | 4–0 | Durham City | 30 November 1927 |
| 31 | Botwell Mission | 3–4 | Peterborough & Fletton United | 30 November 1927 |
| 32 | Rhyl | 4–3 | Wigan Borough | 26 November 1927 |
| 33 | Kettering Town | 2–0 | Chatham | 26 November 1927 |
| 34 | Aldershot | 2–1 | Queens Park Rangers | 30 November 1927 |

## Second round proper

The matches were played on Saturday, 10 December 1927. Two matches were drawn, with replays taking place in the following midweek fixture.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Darlington | 2–1 | Rochdale | 10 December 1927 |
| 2 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 6–1 | Bristol Rovers | 10 December 1927 |
| 3 | Gillingham | 2–0 | Southend United | 10 December 1927 |
| 4 | Crewe Alexandra | 2–0 | Stockport County | 10 December 1927 |
| 5 | Luton Town | 6–0 | Norwich City | 10 December 1927 |
| 6 | Gainsborough Trinity | 0–2 | Lincoln City | 10 December 1927 |
| 7 | London Caledonians | 1–0 | Bath City | 10 December 1927 |
| 8 | Swindon Town | 0–0 | Crystal Palace | 10 December 1927 |
| Replay | Crystal Palace | 1–2 | Swindon Town | 14 December 1927 |
| 9 | Wrexham | 1–0 | Carlisle United | 10 December 1927 |
| 10 | Tranmere Rovers | 3–1 | Halifax Town | 10 December 1927 |
| 11 | Northampton Town | 1–0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 10 December 1927 |
| 12 | Bradford City | 2–3 | Rotherham United | 10 December 1927 |
| 13 | Bradford Park Avenue | 0–2 | Southport | 10 December 1927 |
| 14 | Exeter City | 5–3 | Ilford | 10 December 1927 |
| 15 | Charlton Athletic | 1–1 | Kettering Town | 10 December 1927 |
| Replay | Kettering Town | 1–2 | Charlton Athletic | 15 December 1927 |
| 16 | New Brighton | 7–2 | Rhyl | 10 December 1927 |
| 17 | Peterborough & Fletton United | 2–1 | Aldershot | 10 December 1927 |

## Third round proper

The 44 First and Second Division clubs, entered the competition at this stage, along with Third Division Millwall and Brentford and amateur side Corinthian. London Caledonians and Peterborough & Fletton United were the last qualifying clubs remaining in the draw.
The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 14 January 1928. Three matches were drawn and went to replays in the following midweek fixture.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Birmingham | 4–3 | Peterborough & Fletton United | 14 January 1928 |
| 2 | Blackpool | 1–4 | Oldham Athletic | 14 January 1928 |
| 3 | Bristol City | 1–2 | Tottenham Hotspur | 14 January 1928 |
| 4 | Burnley | 0–2 | Aston Villa | 14 January 1928 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 1–0 | Darlington | 14 January 1928 |
| 6 | Preston North End | 0–3 | Everton | 14 January 1928 |
| 7 | Reading | 4–0 | Grimsby Town | 14 January 1928 |
| 8 | Notts County | 2–3 | Sheffield United | 14 January 1928 |
| 9 | Nottingham Forest | 1–0 | Tranmere Rovers | 14 January 1928 |
| 10 | Blackburn Rovers | 4–1 | Newcastle United | 14 January 1928 |
| 11 | The Wednesday | 3–0 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 14 January 1928 |
| 12 | Bolton Wanderers | 2–1 | Luton Town | 14 January 1928 |
| 13 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–1 | Chelsea | 14 January 1928 |
| 14 | Middlesbrough | 3–0 | South Shields | 14 January 1928 |
| 15 | Sunderland | 3–3 | Northampton Town | 14 January 1928 |
| Replay | Northampton Town | 0–3 | Sunderland | 19 January 1928 |
| 16 | London Caledonians | 2–3 | Crewe Alexandra | 14 January 1928 |
| 17 | Swindon Town | 2–1 | Clapton Orient | 14 January 1928 |
| 18 | Wrexham | 2–1 | Swansea Town | 14 January 1928 |
| 19 | Manchester City | 1–0 | Leeds United | 14 January 1928 |
| 20 | Portsmouth | 0–2 | West Ham United | 14 January 1928 |
| 21 | Manchester United | 7–1 | Brentford | 14 January 1928 |
| 22 | Millwall | 1–2 | Derby County | 14 January 1928 |
| 23 | Hull City | 0–1 | Leicester City | 14 January 1928 |
| 24 | Huddersfield Town | 4–2 | Lincoln City | 14 January 1928 |
| 25 | Cardiff City | 2–1 | Southampton | 14 January 1928 |
| 26 | Port Vale | 3–0 | Barnsley | 14 January 1928 |
| 27 | Charlton Athletic | 1–1 | Bury | 14 January 1928 |
| Replay | Bury | 4–3 | Charlton Athletic | 18 January 1928 |
| 28 | Arsenal | 2–0 | West Bromwich Albion | 14 January 1928 |
| 29 | Southport | 3–0 | Fulham | 14 January 1928 |
| 30 | New Brighton | 2–1 | Corinthian | 14 January 1928 |
| 31 | Stoke City | 6–1 | Gillingham | 14 January 1928 |
| 32 | Rotherham United | 3–3 | Exeter City | 14 January 1928 |
| Replay | Exeter City | 3–1 | Rotherham United | 18 January 1928 |

## Fourth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 28 January 1928. Three games were drawn and went to replays in the following midweek fixture.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Bury | 1–1 | Manchester United | 28 January 1928 |
| Replay | Manchester United | 1–0 | Bury | 1 February 1928 |
| 2 | Reading | 0–1 | Leicester City | 28 January 1928 |
| 3 | Aston Villa | 3–0 | Crewe Alexandra | 28 January 1928 |
| 4 | Sunderland | 1–2 | Manchester City | 28 January 1928 |
| 5 | Derby County | 0–0 | Nottingham Forest | 28 January 1928 |
| Replay | Nottingham Forest | 2–0 | Derby County | 1 February 1928 |
| 6 | Swindon Town | 1–2 | The Wednesday | 28 January 1928 |
| 7 | Wrexham | 1–3 | Birmingham | 28 January 1928 |
| 8 | Sheffield United | 3–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 28 January 1928 |
| 9 | Tottenham Hotspur | 3–0 | Oldham Athletic | 28 January 1928 |
| 10 | Exeter City | 2–2 | Blackburn Rovers | 28 January 1928 |
| Replay | Blackburn Rovers | 3–1 | Exeter City | 2 February 1928 |
| 11 | Huddersfield Town | 2–1 | West Ham United | 28 January 1928 |
| 12 | Cardiff City | 2–1 | Liverpool | 28 January 1928 |
| 13 | Port Vale | 3–0 | New Brighton | 28 January 1928 |
| 14 | Arsenal | 4–3 | Everton | 28 January 1928 |
| 15 | Southport | 0–3 | Middlesbrough | 28 January 1928 |
| 16 | Stoke City | 4–2 | Bolton Wanderers | 28 January 1928 |

## Fifth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 18 February 1928. There was one replay, played in the next midweek fixture.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Leicester City | 0–3 | Tottenham Hotspur | 18 February 1928 |
| 2 | Nottingham Forest | 2–1 | Cardiff City | 18 February 1928 |
| 3 | Blackburn Rovers | 2–1 | Port Vale | 18 February 1928 |
| 4 | The Wednesday | 1–1 | Sheffield United | 18 February 1928 |
| Replay | Sheffield United | 4–1 | The Wednesday | 22 February 1928 |
| 5 | Manchester City | 0–1 | Stoke City | 18 February 1928 |
| 6 | Manchester United | 1–0 | Birmingham | 18 February 1928 |
| 7 | Huddersfield Town | 4–0 | Middlesbrough | 18 February 1928 |
| 8 | Arsenal | 4–1 | Aston Villa | 18 February 1928 |

## Sixth round proper

The four quarter-final ties were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 3 March 1928. There were no replays.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Blackburn Rovers | 2–0 | Manchester United | 3 March 1928 |
| 2 | Sheffield United | 3–0 | Nottingham Forest | 3 March 1928 |
| 3 | Huddersfield Town | 6–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 March 1928 |
| 4 | Arsenal | 4–1 | Stoke City | 3 March 1928 |

## Semi-finals

The semi-final matches were played on Saturday, 24 March 1928. The Huddersfield Town–Sheffield United local derby tie went to two replays before it was settled in Huddersfield's favour. Huddersfield went on to meet Blackburn Rovers in the final at Wembley.

### Replay
## Final

The 1928 FA Cup Final was contested by Blackburn Rovers and Huddersfield Town at Wembley. Blackburn won 3–1, with goals from Jack Roscamp (2) and Tommy McLean. Alex Jackson scored Huddersfield's goal, making this the first final in 18 years where both teams scored.

### Match details

| Blackburn Rovers | Huddersfield Town |