# 1954–55 FA Cup

The 1954–55 FA Cup was the 74th 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 sixth time, beating Manchester City 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 |
| Preliminary round | Saturday 11 September 1954 |
| First round qualifying | Saturday 25 September 1954 |
| Second round qualifying | Saturday 9 October 1954 |
| Third round qualifying | Saturday 23 October 1954 |
| Fourth round qualifying | Saturday 6 November 1954 |
| First round proper | Saturday 20 November 1954 |
| Second round proper | Saturday 11 December 1954 |
| Third round proper | Saturday 8 January 1955 |
| Fourth round proper | Saturday 29 January 1955 |
| Fifth round proper | Saturday 19 February 1955 |
| Sixth round proper | Saturday 12 March 1955 |
| Semi-finals | Saturday 26 March 1955 |
| Final | Saturday 7 May 1955 |

## 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 Scarborough, Horden Colliery Welfare, Blyth Spartans, Stanley United, Netherfield (Kendal), Hyde United, Rhyl, Wigan Athletic, Creswell Colliery, Selby Town, Corby Town, Nuneaton Borough, Hinckley Athletic, Boston United, Kettering Town, Wellington Town, Cambridge United, Bedford Town, Chelmsford City, Walthamstow Avenue, Hounslow Town, Barnet, Headington United, Tunbridge Wells United, Hastings United, Dorchester Town, Barnstaple Town, Newport (IOW), Merthyr Tydfil and Frome Town.
Those appearing in the competition proper for the first time were Stanley United, Creswell Colliery, Corby Town, Hinckley Athletic, Hounslow Town, Dorchester Town and Frome Town. However, Tunbridge Wells United was featuring at this stage for the first time in their own right after predecessor outfit Tunbridge Wells Rangers had last qualified for the main draw in 1938–39 and Hyde United was appearing here for the first time since their record-setting 26-0 loss to Preston North End in 1887-88.

## 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, Crook Town and Bishop Auckland, were given byes to this round as the champions and runners-up from the previous season's FA Amateur Cup.
Matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 20 November 1954. Seven were drawn and went to replays, with one of these going to a second replay.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Barnet | 1–4 | Southampton | 20 November 1954 |
| 2 | Barrow | 1–1 | Darlington | 20 November 1954 |
| Replay | Darlington | 2–1 | Barrow | 24 November 1954 |
| 3 | Bristol City | 1–2 | Southend United | 20 November 1954 |
| 4 | Dorchester Town | 2–0 | Bedford Town | 20 November 1954 |
| 5 | Reading | 3–3 | Colchester United | 20 November 1954 |
| Replay | Colchester United | 1–2 | Reading | 25 November 1954 |
| 6 | Walsall | 5–2 | Shrewsbury Town | 20 November 1954 |
| 7 | Gillingham | 2–0 | Newport County | 20 November 1954 |
| 8 | Grimsby Town | 2–1 | Halifax Town | 20 November 1954 |
| 9 | Swindon Town | 0–2 | Crystal Palace | 20 November 1954 |
| 10 | Bishop Auckland | 5–1 | Kettering Town | 20 November 1954 |
| 11 | Tranmere Rovers | 3–3 | Rochdale | 20 November 1954 |
| Replay | Rochdale | 1–0 | Tranmere Rovers | 23 November 1954 |
| 12 | Stockport County | 0–1 | Carlisle United | 20 November 1954 |
| 13 | Queens Park Rangers | 2–2 | Walthamstow Avenue | 20 November 1954 |
| Replay | Walthamstow Avenue | 2–2 | Queens Park Rangers | 25 November 1954 |
| Replay | Queens Park Rangers | 0–4 | Walthamstow Avenue | 29 November 1954 |
| 14 | Accrington Stanley | 7–1 | Creswell Colliery | 20 November 1954 |
| 15 | Barnsley | 3–2 | Wigan Athletic | 20 November 1954 |
| 16 | Brentford | 2–1 | Nuneaton Borough | 20 November 1954 |
| 17 | Crook Town | 5–3 | Stanley United | 20 November 1954 |
| 18 | Northampton Town | 0–1 | Coventry City | 20 November 1954 |
| 19 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 5–0 | Tunbridge Wells United | 20 November 1954 |
| 20 | Norwich City | 4–2 | Headington United | 20 November 1954 |
| 21 | Bradford City | 3–1 | Mansfield Town | 20 November 1954 |
| 22 | Millwall | 3–2 | Exeter City | 20 November 1954 |
| 23 | Oldham Athletic | 1–0 | Crewe Alexandra | 20 November 1954 |
| 24 | Frome Town | 0–3 | Leyton Orient | 20 November 1954 |
| 25 | Bradford Park Avenue | 2–0 | Southport | 20 November 1954 |
| 26 | Hartlepools United | 1–0 | Chesterfield | 20 November 1954 |
| 27 | Selby Town | 2–1 | Rhyl | 20 November 1954 |
| 28 | Torquay United | 4–0 | Cambridge United | 20 November 1954 |
| 29 | Workington | 5–1 | Hyde United | 20 November 1954 |
| 30 | York City | 3–2 | Scarborough | 20 November 1954 |
| 31 | Netherfield (Kendal) | 3–3 | Wrexham | 20 November 1954 |
| Replay | Wrexham | 4–0 | Netherfield (Kendal) | 24 November 1954 |
| 32 | Aldershot | 3–1 | Chelmsford City | 20 November 1954 |
| 33 | Horden Colliery Welfare | 0–1 | Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 20 November 1954 |
| 34 | Gateshead | 6–0 | Chester | 20 November 1954 |
| 35 | Hounslow Town | 2–4 | Hastings United | 20 November 1954 |
| 36 | Boston United | 1–1 | Blyth Spartans | 20 November 1954 |
| Replay | Blyth Spartans | 5–4 | Boston United | 24 November 1954 |
| 37 | Merthyr Tydfil | 1–1 | Wellington Town | 20 November 1954 |
| Replay | Wellington Town | 1–6 | Merthyr Tydfil | 24 November 1954 |
| 38 | Hinckley Athletic | 4–3 | Newport (IOW) | 20 November 1954 |
| 39 | Barnstaple Town | 1–4 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 20 November 1954 |
| 40 | Corby Town | 0–2 | Watford | 20 November 1954 |

## Second round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 11 December 1954. Four matches were drawn, with replays taking place later the same week.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 1–0 | Oldham Athletic | 11 December 1954 |
| 2 | Dorchester Town | 2–5 | York City | 11 December 1954 |
| 3 | Rochdale | 2–1 | Hinckley Athletic | 11 December 1954 |
| 4 | Gillingham | 1–1 | Reading | 11 December 1954 |
| Replay | Reading | 5–3 | Gillingham | 13 December 1954 |
| 5 | Grimsby Town | 4–1 | Southampton | 11 December 1954 |
| 6 | Wrexham | 1–2 | Walsall | 11 December 1954 |
| 7 | Brentford | 4–1 | Crook Town | 11 December 1954 |
| 8 | Coventry City | 4–0 | Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 11 December 1954 |
| 9 | Norwich City | 0–0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 11 December 1954 |
| Replay | Brighton & Hove Albion | 5–1 | Norwich City | 15 December 1954 |
| 10 | Bradford City | 7–1 | Merthyr Tydfil | 11 December 1954 |
| 11 | Millwall | 3–2 | Accrington Stanley | 11 December 1954 |
| 12 | Carlisle United | 2–2 | Watford | 11 December 1954 |
| Replay | Watford | 4–1 | Carlisle United | 15 December 1954 |
| 13 | Crystal Palace | 2–4 | Bishop Auckland | 11 December 1954 |
| 14 | Bradford Park Avenue | 2–3 | Southend United | 11 December 1954 |
| 15 | Hartlepools United | 4–0 | Aldershot | 11 December 1954 |
| 16 | Blyth Spartans | 1–3 | Torquay United | 11 December 1954 |
| 17 | Selby Town | 0–2 | Hastings United | 11 December 1954 |
| 18 | Walthamstow Avenue | 0–3 | Darlington | 11 December 1954 |
| 19 | Gateshead | 3–3 | Barnsley | 11 December 1954 |
| Replay | Barnsley | 0–1 | Gateshead | 16 December 1954 |
| 20 | Leyton Orient | 0–1 | Workington | 11 December 1954 |

## Third round proper

The 44 First and Second Division clubs entered the competition at this stage. The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 8 January 1955. Ten matches were drawn and went to replays, with three of these requiring a second replay. Notable is tie no. 3, between Bury and Stoke City, which went to four replays before Stoke won in the final game, with an aggregated score of 9–10.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Blackpool | 0–2 | York City | 8 January 1955 |
| 2 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 0–1 | West Bromwich Albion | 8 January 1955 |
| 3 | Bury | 1–1 | Stoke City | 8 January 1955 |
| Replay | Stoke City | 1–1 | Bury | 12 January 1955 |
| Replay | Bury | 3–3 | Stoke City | 17 January 1955 |
| Replay | Stoke City | 2–2 | Bury | 19 January 1955 |
| Replay | Bury | 2–3 | Stoke City | 24 January 1955 |
| 4 | Rochdale | 1–3 | Charlton Athletic | 8 January 1955 |
| 5 | Watford | 1–2 | Doncaster Rovers | 8 January 1955 |
| 6 | Reading | 1–1 | Manchester United | 8 January 1955 |
| Replay | Manchester United | 4–1 | Reading | 12 January 1955 |
| 7 | Blackburn Rovers | 0–2 | Swansea Town | 8 January 1955 |
| 8 | Sheffield Wednesday | 2–1 | Hastings United | 8 January 1955 |
| 9 | Bolton Wanderers | 3–1 | Millwall | 8 January 1955 |
| 10 | Grimsby Town | 2–5 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 8 January 1955 |
| 11 | Middlesbrough | 1–4 | Notts County | 8 January 1955 |
| 12 | Sunderland | 1–0 | Burnley | 8 January 1955 |
| 13 | Derby County | 1–3 | Manchester City | 8 January 1955 |
| 14 | Lincoln City | 1–1 | Liverpool | 8 January 1955 |
| Replay | Liverpool | 1–0 | Lincoln City | 12 January 1955 |
| 15 | Luton Town | 5–0 | Workington | 8 January 1955 |
| 16 | Everton | 3–1 | Southend United | 8 January 1955 |
| 17 | Sheffield United | 1–3 | Nottingham Forest | 8 January 1955 |
| 18 | Ipswich Town | 2–2 | Bishop Auckland | 8 January 1955 |
| Replay | Bishop Auckland | 3–0 | Ipswich Town | 12 January 1955 |
| 19 | Fulham | 2–3 | Preston North End | 8 January 1955 |
| 20 | Brentford | 1–1 | Bradford City | 8 January 1955 |
| Replay | Bradford City | 2–2 | Brentford | 12 January 1955 |
| Replay | Brentford | 1–0 | Bradford City | 20 January 1955 |
| 21 | Bristol Rovers | 2–1 | Portsmouth | 8 January 1955 |
| 22 | West Ham United | 2–2 | Port Vale | 8 January 1955 |
| Replay | Port Vale | 3–1 | West Ham United | 10 January 1955 |
| 23 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2–2 | Aston Villa | 8 January 1955 |
| Replay | Aston Villa | 4–2 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 10 January 1955 |
| 24 | Plymouth Argyle | 0–1 | Newcastle United | 8 January 1955 |
| 25 | Hull City | 0–2 | Birmingham City | 8 January 1955 |
| 26 | Chelsea | 2–0 | Walsall | 8 January 1955 |
| 27 | Hartlepools United | 1–1 | Darlington | 8 January 1955 |
| Replay | Darlington | 2–2 | Hartlepools United | 12 January 1955 |
| Replay | Hartlepools United | 2–0 | Darlington | 17 January 1955 |
| 28 | Huddersfield Town | 3–3 | Coventry City | 8 January 1955 |
| Replay | Coventry City | 1–2 | Huddersfield Town | 13 January 1955 |
| 29 | Arsenal | 1–0 | Cardiff City | 8 January 1955 |
| 30 | Leeds United | 2–2 | Torquay United | 8 January 1955 |
| Replay | Torquay United | 4–0 | Leeds United | 12 January 1955 |
| 31 | Rotherham United | 1–0 | Leicester City | 8 January 1955 |
| 32 | Gateshead | 0–2 | Tottenham Hotspur | 8 January 1955 |

## Fourth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 29 January 1955. Four matches were drawn and went to replays, which were all played in the following midweek match. Once again there was a tie which went to four replays, this one being between Doncaster Rovers and Aston Villa. Rovers finally won the fixture in the fifth match with an aggregated score of 6–4.
Bishop Auckland was the last non-league club left in the competition.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Preston North End | 3–3 | Sunderland | 29 January 1955 |
| Replay | Sunderland | 2–0 | Preston North End | 2 February 1955 |
| 2 | Sheffield Wednesday | 1–1 | Notts County | 29 January 1955 |
| Replay | Notts County | 1–0 | Sheffield Wednesday | 3 February 1955 |
| 3 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–0 | Arsenal | 29 January 1955 |
| 4 | West Bromwich Albion | 2–4 | Charlton Athletic | 29 January 1955 |
| 5 | Everton | 0–4 | Liverpool | 29 January 1955 |
| 6 | Doncaster Rovers | 0–0 | Aston Villa | 29 January 1955 |
| Replay | Aston Villa | 2–2 | Doncaster Rovers | 2 February 1955 |
| Replay | Doncaster Rovers | 1–1 | Aston Villa | 7 February 1955 |
| Replay | Aston Villa | 0–0 | Doncaster Rovers | 14 February 1955 |
| Replay | Doncaster Rovers | 3–1 | Aston Villa | 15 February 1955 |
| 7 | Bishop Auckland | 1–3 | York City | 29 January 1955 |
| 8 | Newcastle United | 3–2 | Brentford | 29 January 1955 |
| 9 | Tottenham Hotspur | 4–2 | Port Vale | 29 January 1955 |
| 10 | Manchester City | 2–0 | Manchester United | 29 January 1955 |
| 11 | Bristol Rovers | 1–3 | Chelsea | 29 January 1955 |
| 12 | Hartlepools United | 1–1 | Nottingham Forest | 29 January 1955 |
| Replay | Nottingham Forest | 2–1 | Hartlepools United | 2 February 1955 |
| 13 | Swansea Town | 3–1 | Stoke City | 29 January 1955 |
| 14 | Torquay United | 0–1 | Huddersfield Town | 29 January 1955 |
| 15 | Rotherham United | 1–5 | Luton Town | 29 January 1955 |
| 16 | Birmingham City | 2–1 | Bolton Wanderers | 29 January 1955 |

## Fifth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 19 February 1955. Two matches went to replays in the following mid-week fixture, with the Nottingham Forest–Newcastle United match requiring a second replay to settle it in favour of United.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Liverpool | 0–2 | Huddersfield Town | 19 February 1955 |
| 2 | Notts County | 1–0 | Chelsea | 19 February 1955 |
| 3 | Nottingham Forest | 1–1 | Newcastle United | 19 February 1955 |
| Replay | Newcastle United | 2–2 | Nottingham Forest | 28 February 1955 |
| Replay | Newcastle United | 2–1 | Nottingham Forest | 2 March 1955 |
| 4 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 4–1 | Charlton Athletic | 19 February 1955 |
| 5 | Luton Town | 0–2 | Manchester City | 19 February 1955 |
| 6 | Swansea Town | 2–2 | Sunderland | 19 February 1955 |
| Replay | Sunderland | 1–0 | Swansea Town | 23 February 1955 |
| 7 | York City | 3–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 19 February 1955 |
| 8 | Birmingham City | 2–1 | Doncaster Rovers | 19 February 1955 |

## Sixth round proper

The four quarter-final ties were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 12 March 1955. The Newcastle United–Huddersfield Town game went to a replay before United went through.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Notts County | 0–1 | York City | 12 March 1955 |
| 2 | Sunderland | 2–0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 12 March 1955 |
| 3 | Huddersfield Town | 1–1 | Newcastle United | 12 March 1955 |
| Replay | Newcastle United | 2–0 | Huddersfield Town | 16 March 1955 |
| 4 | Birmingham City | 0–1 | Manchester City | 12 March 1955 |

## Semi-finals

The semi-final matches were played on Saturday, 26 March 1955, with the Newcastle United–York City match replaying on the 30th. Newcastle and Manchester City won their ties to meet in the final at Wembley.

### Replay
## Final

The 1955 FA Cup Final was contested by Newcastle United and Manchester City at Wembley. Newcastle won 3–1, with goals from Jackie Milburn in the first minute (after 45 seconds, setting a new record in a final at Wembley, which was held until 1997), Bobby Mitchell and George Hannah. Bobby Johnstone scored City's goal.

### Match details

| Newcastle United | Manchester City |