# 1931–32 FA Cup

The 1931–32 FA Cup was the 57th season of the world's oldest football cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup. Newcastle United won the competition for the third time, beating Arsenal 2–1 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 5 September 1931 |
| Preliminary round | Saturday 19 September 1931 |
| First round qualifying | Saturday 3 October 1931 |
| Second round qualifying | Saturday 17 October 1931 |
| Third round qualifying | Saturday 31 October 1931 |
| Fourth round qualifying | Saturday 13 November 1931 |
| First round proper | Saturday 28 November 1931 |
| Second round proper | Saturday 12 December 1931 |
| Third round proper | Saturday 9 January 1932 |
| Fourth round proper | Saturday 23 January 1932 |
| Fifth round proper | Saturday 13 February 1932 |
| Sixth round proper | Saturday 27 March 1932 |
| Semi-finals | Saturday 12 March 1932 |
| Final | Saturday 23 April 1932 |

## Qualifying rounds

Most 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 24 winners from the fourth qualifying round were West Stanley, Crook Town, Blyth Spartans, Lancaster Town, Darwen, Manchester Central, Yorkshire Amateur, Scunthorpe & Lindsey United, Gainsborough Trinity, Newark Town, Burton Town, Peterborough & Fletton United, Hayes, Enfield, Barnet, Chelmsford, Northfleet United, Folkestone, Tunbridge Wells Rangers, Guildford City, Wimbledon, Metropolitan Police, Nunhead and Yeovil & Petter's United.
Due to the uneven number of teams (49) contesting this season's fourth qualifying round, Bath City, having won through to that stage from the preliminary round, received a bye to the first round proper.
Those appearing in the main competition for the first time were Yorkshire Amateur, Burton Town, Enfield, Chelmsford and Metropolitan Police, while Darwen had last featured at this stage in the Intermediate Round of the 1903-04 tournament. Additionally, Burton was the first club from that town to qualify for the FA Cup competition proper since Burton United in 1906-07.
Blyth Spartans became the second club in the competition's history to progress from the extra preliminary round to the second round proper, defeating Shankhouse, Scotswood, Wallsend Boys Club, Walker Celtic, Jarrow, Stockton and Lancaster Town before losing to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic at Dean Court.

## First round proper

At this stage 42 clubs from the Football League Third Division North and South joined the 25 non-league clubs that came through the qualifying rounds. Southport and Exeter City were given byes to the third round. To make up the requisite number of matches, non-league Aldershot was given a bye to this round.
34 matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 28 November 1931. Eight were drawn and went to replays in the following midweek fixture, of which one went to two more replays. Notable in this round is the home win awarded to Burton Town due to Wigan Borough folding and resigning from the Football League just after the start of the season.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Chester | 4–1 | Hartlepools United | 28 November 1931 |
| 2 | Darlington | 1–0 | Walsall | 28 November 1931 |
| 3 | Darwen | 4–1 | Peterborough & Fletton United | 28 November 1931 |
| 4 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 1–1 | Northfleet United | 28 November 1931 |
| Replay | Northfleet United | 0–1 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 2 December 1931 |
| 5 | Barnet | 3–7 | Queens Park Rangers | 28 November 1931 |
| 6 | Barrow | 3–3 | Doncaster Rovers | 28 November 1931 |
| Replay | Doncaster Rovers | 1–1 | Barrow | 3 December 1931 |
| Replay | Barrow | 1–1 | Doncaster Rovers | 7 December 1931 |
| Replay | Doncaster Rovers | 1–0 | Barrow | 9 December 1931 |
| 7 | Bath City | 9–0 | Nunhead | 28 November 1931 |
| 8 | Reading | 0–1 | Crystal Palace | 28 November 1931 |
| 9 | Folkestone | 2–5 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 28 November 1931 |
| 10 | Crewe Alexandra | 2–2 | Gainsborough Trinity | 28 November 1931 |
| Replay | Gainsborough Trinity | 1–0 | Crewe Alexandra | 2 December 1931 |
| 11 | Swindon Town | 0–5 | Luton Town | 28 November 1931 |
| 12 | Tranmere Rovers | 3–0 | West Stanley | 28 November 1931 |
| 13 | Fulham | 2–0 | Guildford City | 28 November 1931 |
| 14 | Crook Town | 3–1 | Stockport County | 28 November 1931 |
| 15 | Bristol Rovers | 5–1 | Gillingham | 28 November 1931 |
| 16 | Northampton Town | 9–0 | Metropolitan Police | 28 November 1931 |
| 17 | Coventry City | 2–2 | Clapton Orient | 28 November 1931 |
| Replay | Clapton Orient | 2–0 | Coventry City | 3 December 1931 |
| 18 | Hull City | 4–1 | Mansfield Town | 28 November 1931 |
| 19 | Tunbridge Wells Rangers | 1–1 | Brentford | 28 November 1931 |
| Replay | Brentford | 2–1 | Tunbridge Wells Rangers | 2 December 1931 |
| 20 | Wimbledon | 1–3 | Norwich City | 28 November 1931 |
| 21 | Lancaster Town | 0–3 | Blyth Spartans | 28 November 1931 |
| 22 | Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 2–1 | Rochdale | 28 November 1931 |
| 23 | Cardiff City | 8–0 | Enfield | 28 November 1931 |
| 24 | Burton Town | Walkover - Home win | Wigan Borough | N/A |
| 25 | Yeovil & Petter's United | 3–1 | Hayes | 28 November 1931 |
| 26 | New Brighton | 3–1 | York City | 28 November 1931 |
| 27 | Torquay United | 1–3 | Southend United | 28 November 1931 |
| 28 | Newark Town | 1–1 | Halifax Town | 28 November 1931 |
| Replay | Halifax Town | 2–1 | Newark Town | 2 December 1931 |
| 29 | Yorkshire Amateur | 1–3 | Carlisle United | 28 November 1931 |
| 30 | Rotherham United | 0–0 | Accrington Stanley | 28 November 1931 |
| Replay | Accrington Stanley | 5–0 | Rotherham United | 2 December 1931 |
| 31 | Aldershot | 7–0 | Chelmsford | 28 November 1931 |
| 32 | Thames | 2–2 | Watford | 28 November 1931 |
| Replay | Watford | 2–1 | Thames | 2 December 1931 |
| 33 | Manchester Central | 0–3 | Lincoln City | 28 November 1931 |
| 34 | Gateshead | 3–2 | Wrexham | 28 November 1931 |

## Second round proper

The matches were played on Saturday, 12 December 1931. Three matches were drawn, with replays taking place in the following midweek fixture.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Darwen | 2–1 | Chester | 12 December 1931 |
| 2 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 1–0 | Blyth Spartans | 12 December 1931 |
| 3 | Bath City | 2–1 | Crystal Palace | 12 December 1931 |
| 4 | Lincoln City | 2–2 | Luton Town | 12 December 1931 |
| Replay | Luton Town | 4–1 | Lincoln City | 16 December 1931 |
| 5 | Gainsborough Trinity | 2–5 | Watford | 12 December 1931 |
| 6 | Tranmere Rovers | 2–0 | Bristol Rovers | 12 December 1931 |
| 7 | Fulham | 0–0 | Yeovil & Petter's United | 12 December 1931 |
| Replay | Yeovil & Petter's United | 2–5 | Fulham | 17 December 1931 |
| 8 | Brentford | 4–1 | Norwich City | 12 December 1931 |
| 9 | Northampton Town | 3–0 | Southend United | 12 December 1931 |
| 10 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 5–0 | Doncaster Rovers | 12 December 1931 |
| 11 | Carlisle United | 0–2 | Darlington | 12 December 1931 |
| 12 | Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 1–4 | Queens Park Rangers | 12 December 1931 |
| 13 | Cardiff City | 4–0 | Clapton Orient | 12 December 1931 |
| 14 | Burton Town | 4–1 | Gateshead | 12 December 1931 |
| 15 | Halifax Town | 3–0 | Accrington Stanley | 12 December 1931 |
| 16 | New Brighton Athletic | 0–4 | Hull City | 12 December 1931 |
| 17 | Aldershot | 1–1 | Crook Town | 12 December 1931 |
| Replay | Crook Town | 1–0 | Aldershot | 16 December 1931 |

## Third round proper

The 44 First and Second Division clubs entered the competition at this stage, along with Southport, Exeter City and amateur side Corinthian. The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 9 January 1932. Twelve matches were drawn and went to replays in the following midweek fixture.
Darwen, Bath City, Burton Town and Crook Town were the last clubs from the qualifying rounds left in the competition, but all remaining non-league sides (including Corinthian) went out in this round.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Birmingham | 1–0 | Bradford City | 9 January 1932 |
| 2 | Blackpool | 1–1 | Newcastle United | 9 January 1932 |
| Replay | Newcastle United | 1–0 | Blackpool | 13 January 1932 |
| 3 | Chesterfield | 5–2 | Nottingham Forest | 9 January 1932 |
| 4 | Darlington | 1–1 | Northampton Town | 9 January 1932 |
| Replay | Northampton Town | 2–0 | Darlington | 14 January 1932 |
| 5 | Burnley | 0–4 | Derby County | 9 January 1932 |
| 6 | Bury | 2–1 | Swansea Town | 9 January 1932 |
| 7 | Preston North End | 0–0 | Bolton Wanderers | 9 January 1932 |
| Replay | Bolton Wanderers | 2–5 | Preston North End | 13 January 1932 |
| 8 | Watford | 1–1 | Fulham | 9 January 1932 |
| Replay | Fulham | 0–3 | Watford | 14 January 1932 |
| 9 | Leicester City | 7–0 | Crook Town | 9 January 1932 |
| 10 | Notts County | 2–2 | Bristol City | 9 January 1932 |
| Replay | Bristol City | 3–2 | Notts County | 13 January 1932 |
| 11 | Grimsby Town | 4–1 | Exeter City | 9 January 1932 |
| 12 | Middlesbrough | 1–1 | Portsmouth | 9 January 1932 |
| Replay | Portsmouth | 3–0 | Middlesbrough | 13 January 1932 |
| 13 | West Bromwich Albion | 1–2 | Aston Villa | 9 January 1932 |
| 14 | Sunderland | 0–0 | Southampton | 9 January 1932 |
| Replay | Southampton | 2–4 | Sunderland | 13 January 1932 |
| 15 | Luton Town | 1–2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 9 January 1932 |
| 16 | Everton | 1–2 | Liverpool | 9 January 1932 |
| 17 | Sheffield United | 2–1 | Corinthian | 9 January 1932 |
| 18 | Tranmere Rovers | 2–2 | Chelsea | 9 January 1932 |
| Replay | Chelsea | 5–3 | Tranmere Rovers | 13 January 1932 |
| 19 | Tottenham Hotspur | 2–2 | Sheffield Wednesday | 9 January 1932 |
| Replay | Sheffield Wednesday | 3–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 13 January 1932 |
| 20 | Queens Park Rangers | 3–1 | Leeds United | 9 January 1932 |
| 21 | Barnsley | 0–0 | Southport | 9 January 1932 |
| Replay | Southport | 4–1 | Barnsley | 12 January 1932 |
| 22 | Brentford | 2–0 | Bath City | 9 January 1932 |
| 23 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1–2 | Port Vale | 9 January 1932 |
| 24 | Plymouth Argyle | 4–1 | Manchester United | 9 January 1932 |
| 25 | Millwall | 2–3 | Manchester City | 9 January 1932 |
| 26 | Oldham Athletic | 1–1 | Huddersfield Town | 9 January 1932 |
| Replay | Huddersfield Town | 6–0 | Oldham Athletic | 13 January 1932 |
| 27 | Bradford Park Avenue | 2–0 | Cardiff City | 9 January 1932 |
| 28 | Burton Town | 0–4 | Blackburn Rovers | 9 January 1932 |
| 29 | Halifax Town | 1–3 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 9 January 1932 |
| 30 | Charlton Athletic | 1–2 | West Ham United | 9 January 1932 |
| 31 | Arsenal | 11–1 | Darwen | 9 January 1932 |
| 32 | Stoke City | 3–0 | Hull City | 9 January 1932 |

## Fourth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 23 January 1932. Three games were drawn and went to replays in the following midweek fixture, of which two went to second replays.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Chesterfield | 2–4 | Liverpool | 23 January 1932 |
| 2 | Bury | 3–1 | Sheffield United | 23 January 1932 |
| 3 | Preston North End | 2–0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 23 January 1932 |
| 4 | Watford | 2–1 | Bristol City | 23 January 1932 |
| 5 | Sheffield Wednesday | 7–0 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 23 January 1932 |
| 6 | Grimsby Town | 2–1 | Birmingham | 23 January 1932 |
| 7 | Sunderland | 1–1 | Stoke City | 23 January 1932 |
| Replay | Stoke City | 1–1 | Sunderland | 28 January 1932 |
| Replay | Stoke City | 2–1 | Sunderland | 1 February 1932 |
| 8 | Derby County | 3–2 | Blackburn Rovers | 23 January 1932 |
| 9 | Newcastle United | 1–1 | Southport | 23 January 1932 |
| Replay | Southport | 1–1 | Newcastle United | 26 January 1932 |
| Replay | Newcastle United | 9–0 | Southport | 1 February 1932 |
| 10 | Manchester City | 6–1 | Brentford | 23 January 1932 |
| 11 | Portsmouth | 1–1 | Aston Villa | 23 January 1932 |
| Replay | Aston Villa | 0–1 | Portsmouth | 27 January 1932 |
| 12 | Chelsea | 3–1 | West Ham United | 23 January 1932 |
| 13 | Bradford Park Avenue | 4–2 | Northampton Town | 23 January 1932 |
| 14 | Huddersfield Town | 5–0 | Queens Park Rangers | 23 January 1932 |
| 15 | Port Vale | 1–2 | Leicester City | 23 January 1932 |
| 16 | Arsenal | 4–2 | Plymouth Argyle | 23 January 1932 |

## Fifth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 13 February 1932. There was one replay, between Chelsea and Sheffield Wednesday, played in the next midweek fixture.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Bury | 3–0 | Stoke City | 13 February 1932 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 1–0 | Grimsby Town | 13 February 1932 |
| 3 | Watford | 1–0 | Bradford Park Avenue | 13 February 1932 |
| 4 | Sheffield Wednesday | 1–1 | Chelsea | 13 February 1932 |
| Replay | Chelsea | 2–0 | Sheffield Wednesday | 17 February 1932 |
| 5 | Newcastle United | 3–1 | Leicester City | 13 February 1932 |
| 6 | Manchester City | 3–0 | Derby County | 13 February 1932 |
| 7 | Portsmouth | 0–2 | Arsenal | 13 February 1932 |
| 8 | Huddersfield Town | 4–0 | Preston North End | 13 February 1932 |

## Sixth round proper

The four Sixth Round ties were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 27 February 1932. There were no replays.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Bury | 3–4 | Manchester City | 27 February 1932 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 0–2 | Chelsea | 27 February 1932 |
| 3 | Newcastle United | 5–0 | Watford | 27 February 1932 |
| 4 | Huddersfield Town | 0–1 | Arsenal | 27 February 1932 |

## Semi-finals

The semi-final matches were played on Saturday, 12 March 1932. Newcastle United and Arsenal won their matches to meet in the final at Wembley.

## Final

The 1932 FA Cup Final was contested by Newcastle United and Arsenal at Wembley in what became known as the "Over The Line" final. Newcastle won 2–1, both of their goals scored by Jack Allen.

### Match details

| Newcastle United | Arsenal |