# 1969–70 FA Cup

The 1969–70 FA Cup was the 89th season of the world's oldest football cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup. First Division Chelsea won the competition for the first time, first drawing with Leeds United 2–2 in the final at Wembley, before winning 2–1 in the replay at Old Trafford.
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 6 September 1969 |
| First round qualifying | Saturday 20 September 1969 |
| Second round qualifying | Saturday 4 October 1969 |
| Third round qualifying | Saturday 18 October 1969 |
| Fourth round qualifying | Saturday 1 November 1969 |
| First round proper | Saturday 15 November 1969 |
| Second round proper | Saturday 6 December 1969 |
| Third round proper | Saturday 3 January 1970 |
| Fourth round proper | Saturday 24 January 1970 |
| Fifth round proper | Saturday 7 February 1970 |
| Sixth round proper | Saturday 21 February 1970 |
| Semi-finals | Saturday 14 March 1970 |
| Final | Saturday 11 April 1970 |

## 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 South Shields, Whitby Town, Spennymoor United, Mossley, Bangor City, Wigan Athletic, Macclesfield Town, Kirkby Town, Grantham, Telford United, Hereford United, Tamworth, Alfreton Town, Kettering Town, Chelmsford City, Oxford City, Brentwood Town, Hendon, Enfield, Hillingdon Borough, Margate, Barnet, Carshalton Athletic, Walton & Hersham, Dagenham, Wimbledon, Cheltenham Town, Weymouth, Yeovil Town and Falmouth Town.
Those appearing in the competition proper for the first time were Whitby Town, Kirkby Town, Alfreton Town and Carshalton Athletic. Of the others, Walton & Hersham had last featured at this stage in 1957–58, Hillingdon Borough (known at the time as Yiewsley) had last done so in 1956-57 and Mossley had last done so in 1949-50.
Between 20 September 1969 and 12 January 1970, Hillingdon Borough competed in eleven Cup fixtures while progressing from the first qualifying round to the third round proper. They saw off Tooting & Mitcham United (after a replay), Bromley, Tilbury, Dartford (after a second replay), Wimbledon and Luton Town before going out to Sutton United at Gander Green Lane after another replay.

## 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, North Shields and Sutton United were given byes to this stage as the champions and runners-up from the previous season's FA Amateur Cup.
Matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 15 November 1969. Thirteen matches were drawn, of which two went to second replays and one of these to a third.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Darlington | 0–0 | Barnsley | 15 November 1969 |
| Replay | Barnsley | 2–0 | Darlington | 18 November 1969 |
| 2 | Hartlepool | 3–0 | North Shields | 15 November 1969 |
| 3 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 1–1 | Luton Town | 15 November 1969 |
| Replay | Luton Town | 3–1 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 18 November 1969 |
| 4 | Bury | 2–2 | Mansfield Town | 15 November 1969 |
| Replay | Mansfield Town | 2–0 | Bury | 19 November 1969 |
| 5 | Yeovil Town | 2–3 | Shrewsbury Town | 15 November 1969 |
| 6 | Walsall | 0–0 | Orient | 15 November 1969 |
| Replay | Orient | 0–2 | Walsall | 17 November 1969 |
| 7 | Notts County | 0–3 | Rotherham United | 15 November 1969 |
| 8 | Macclesfield Town | 1–1 | Scunthorpe United | 15 November 1969 |
| Replay | Scunthorpe United | 4–2 | Macclesfield Town | 18 November 1969 |
| 9 | Lincoln City | 2–0 | Southport | 15 November 1969 |
| 10 | Doncaster Rovers | 1–1 | Crewe Alexandra | 15 November 1969 |
| Replay | Crewe Alexandra | 0–1 | Doncaster Rovers | 19 November 1969 |
| 11 | Tranmere Rovers | 3–0 | Chesterfield | 15 November 1969 |
| 12 | Stockport County | 1–1 | Mossley | 15 November 1969 |
| Replay | Mossley | 0–1 | Stockport County | 18 November 1969 |
| 13 | Bangor City | 6–0 | Kirkby Town | 15 November 1969 |
| 14 | Brentford | 0–0 | Plymouth Argyle | 15 November 1969 |
| Replay | Plymouth Argyle | 2–0 | Brentford | 19 November 1969 |
| 15 | Northampton Town | 0–0 | Weymouth | 15 November 1969 |
| Replay | Weymouth | 1–3 | Northampton Town | 19 November 1969 |
| 16 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2–1 | Enfield | 15 November 1969 |
| 17 | Bradford City | 2–1 | Grimsby Town | 15 November 1969 |
| 18 | Oldham Athletic | 3–1 | Grantham | 15 November 1969 |
| 19 | Spennymoor United | 1–4 | Wrexham | 15 November 1969 |
| 20 | Southend United | 0–0 | Gillingham | 15 November 1969 |
| Replay | Gillingham | 2–1 | Southend United | 19 November 1969 |
| 21 | Exeter City | 2–0 | Fulham | 15 November 1969 |
| 22 | Alfreton Town | 1–1 | Barrow | 15 November 1969 |
| Replay | Barrow | 0–0 | Alfreton Town | 17 November 1969 |
| Replay | Alfreton Town | 2–2 | Barrow | 20 November 1969 |
| Replay | Barrow | 2–0 | Alfreton Town | 24 November 1969 |
| 23 | Halifax Town | 3–3 | Chester | 15 November 1969 |
| Replay | Chester | 1–0 | Halifax Town | 19 November 1969 |
| 24 | Newport County | 2–1 | Colchester United | 15 November 1969 |
| 25 | Margate | 2–7 | Aldershot | 15 November 1969 |
| 26 | Cheltenham Town | 0–2 | Oxford City | 15 November 1969 |
| 27 | Workington | 2–1 | Rochdale | 15 November 1969 |
| 28 | York City | 2–0 | Whitby Town | 15 November 1969 |
| 29 | Kettering Town | 0–2 | Swansea Town | 15 November 1969 |
| 30 | Wigan Athletic | 1–1 | Port Vale | 15 November 1969 |
| Replay | Port Vale | 2–2 | Wigan Athletic | 18 November 1969 |
| Replay | Port Vale | 1–0 | Wigan Athletic | 24 November 1969 |
| 31 | Tamworth | 2–1 | Torquay United | 15 November 1969 |
| 32 | South Shields | 2–1 | Bradford Park Avenue | 15 November 1969 |
| 33 | Chelmsford City | 1–2 | Hereford United | 15 November 1969 |
| 34 | Walton & Hersham | 0–1 | Barnet | 15 November 1969 |
| 35 | Hendon | 5–3 | Carshalton Athletic | 15 November 1969 |
| 36 | Dagenham | 0–1 | Sutton United | 15 November 1969 |
| 37 | Falmouth Town | 1–4 | Peterborough United | 15 November 1969 |
| 38 | Hillingdon Borough | 2–0 | Wimbledon | 15 November 1969 |
| 39 | Brentwood Town | 1–0 | Reading | 15 November 1969 |
| 40 | Telford United | 0–3 | Bristol Rovers | 15 November 1969 |

### Second round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 6 December 1969. Seven matches were drawn, with replays taking place later the same week. Two games needed a second replay, and one of these a third.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Chester | 1–1 | Doncaster Rovers | 6 December 1969 |
| Replay | Doncaster Rovers | 0–2 | Chester | 9 December 1969 |
| 2 | Hartlepool | 0–1 | Wrexham | 6 December 1969 |
| 3 | Barnet | 0–2 | Sutton United | 6 December 1969 |
| 4 | Gillingham | 6–0 | Tamworth | 6 December 1969 |
| 5 | Shrewsbury Town | 1–2 | Mansfield Town | 6 December 1969 |
| 6 | Stockport County | 0–0 | Scunthorpe United | 6 December 1969 |
| Replay | Scunthorpe United | 4–0 | Stockport County | 9 December 1969 |
| 7 | Oxford City | 1–5 | Swansea Town | 6 December 1969 |
| 8 | Bangor City | 0–0 | York City | 6 December 1969 |
| Replay | York City | 2–0 | Bangor City | 9 December 1969 |
| 9 | Barnsley | 3–0 | Barrow | 6 December 1969 |
| 10 | Northampton Town | 1–1 | Exeter City | 6 December 1969 |
| Replay | Exeter City | 0–0 | Northampton Town | 9 December 1969 |
| Replay | Northampton Town | 2–1 | Exeter City | 15 December 1969 |
| 11 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1–1 | Walsall | 6 December 1969 |
| Replay | Walsall | 1–1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 9 December 1969 |
| Replay | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0–0 | Walsall | 15 December 1969 |
| Replay | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1–2 | Walsall | 17 December 1969 |
| 12 | Bradford City | 3–0 | Lincoln City | 6 December 1969 |
| 13 | Port Vale | 2–2 | Tranmere Rovers | 6 December 1969 |
| Replay | Tranmere Rovers | 3–1 | Port Vale | 8 December 1969 |
| 14 | Newport County | 2–1 | Hereford United | 6 December 1969 |
| 15 | Rotherham United | 3–0 | Workington | 6 December 1969 |
| 16 | Aldershot | 3–1 | Bristol Rovers | 6 December 1969 |
| 17 | Peterborough United | 2–0 | Plymouth Argyle | 6 December 1969 |
| 18 | South Shields | 0–0 | Oldham Athletic | 6 December 1969 |
| Replay | Oldham Athletic | 1–2 | South Shields | 9 December 1969 |
| 19 | Hendon | 0–2 | Brentwood Town | 6 December 1969 |
| 20 | Hillingdon Borough | 2–1 | Luton Town | 6 December 1969 |

### Third round proper

The 44 First and Second Division clubs entered the competition at this stage. The matches were scheduled Saturday, 3 January 1970, but three were played at later dates. Nine matches were drawn and went to replays, with York City and Cardiff City requiring a second replay at Birmingham City's St Andrew's ground.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Chester | 2–1 | Bristol City | 3 January 1970 |
| 2 | Burnley | 3–0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3 January 1970 |
| 3 | Preston North End | 1–1 | Derby County | 3 January 1970 |
| Replay | Derby County | 4–1 | Preston North End | 7 January 1970 |
| 4 | Southampton | 3–0 | Newcastle United | 3 January 1970 |
| 5 | Gillingham | 1–0 | Newport County | 3 January 1970 |
| 6 | Leicester City | 1–0 | Sunderland | 3 January 1970 |
| 7 | Nottingham Forest | 0–0 | Carlisle United | 3 January 1970 |
| Replay | Carlisle United | 2–1 | Nottingham Forest | 6 January 1970 |
| 8 | Blackburn Rovers | 0–4 | Swindon Town | 3 January 1970 |
| 9 | Aston Villa | 1–1 | Charlton Athletic | 3 January 1970 |
| Replay | Charlton Athletic | 1–0 | Aston Villa | 12 January 1970 |
| 10 | Sheffield Wednesday | 2–1 | West Bromwich Albion | 3 January 1970 |
| 11 | Bolton Wanderers | 1–2 | Watford | 3 January 1970 |
| 12 | Middlesbrough | 2–1 | West Ham United | 3 January 1970 |
| 13 | Sheffield United | 2–1 | Everton | 3 January 1970 |
| 14 | Ipswich Town | 0–1 | Manchester United | 3 January 1970 |
| 15 | Queens Park Rangers | 4–1 | South Shields | 3 January 1970 |
| 16 | Coventry City | 1–1 | Liverpool | 7 January 1970 |
| Replay | Liverpool | 3–0 | Coventry City | 12 January 1970 |
| 17 | Portsmouth | 1–2 | Tranmere Rovers | 3 January 1970 |
| 18 | Norwich City | 1–2 | Wrexham | 3 January 1970 |
| 19 | Bradford City | 2–2 | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 January 1970 |
| Replay | Tottenham Hotspur | 5–0 | Bradford City | 7 January 1970 |
| 20 | Hull City | 0–1 | Manchester City | 3 January 1970 |
| 21 | Crystal Palace | 2–0 | Walsall | 3 January 1970 |
| 22 | Chelsea | 3–0 | Birmingham City | 3 January 1970 |
| 23 | Scunthorpe United | 2–1 | Millwall | 3 January 1970 |
| 24 | Huddersfield Town | 1–1 | Aldershot | 3 January 1970 |
| Replay | Aldershot | 3–1 | Huddersfield Town | 12 January 1970 |
| 25 | Mansfield Town | 3–2 | Barnsley | 3 January 1970 |
| 26 | Arsenal | 1–1 | Blackpool | 3 January 1970 |
| Replay | Blackpool | 3–2 | Arsenal | 15 January 1970 |
| 27 | Leeds United | 2–1 | Swansea Town | 3 January 1970 |
| 28 | York City | 1–1 | Cardiff City | 3 January 1970 |
| Replay | Cardiff City | 1–1 | York City | 12 January 1970 |
| Replay | Cardiff City | 1–3 | York City | 15 January 1970 |
| 29 | Rotherham United | 0–1 | Peterborough United | 3 January 1970 |
| 30 | Oxford United | 0–0 | Stoke City | 3 January 1970 |
| Replay | Stoke City | 3–2 | Oxford United | 7 January 1970 |
| 31 | Hillingdon Borough | 0–0 | Sutton United | 6 January 1970 |
| Replay | Sutton United | 4–1 | Hillingdon Borough | 12 January 1970 |
| 32 | Brentwood Town | 0–1 | Northampton Town | 12 January 1970 |

### Fourth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 24 January 1970. Five matches were drawn, with the replays taking place three or four days later. Sutton United was the last non-league club left in the competition.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Blackpool | 0–2 | Mansfield Town | 24 January 1970 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 3–1 | Wrexham | 24 January 1970 |
| 3 | Southampton | 1–1 | Leicester City | 24 January 1970 |
| Replay | Leicester City | 4–2 | Southampton | 28 January 1970 |
| 4 | Sutton United | 0–6 | Leeds United | 24 January 1970 |
| 5 | Watford | 1–0 | Stoke City | 24 January 1970 |
| 6 | Gillingham | 5–1 | Peterborough United | 24 January 1970 |
| 7 | Sheffield Wednesday | 1–2 | Scunthorpe United | 24 January 1970 |
| 8 | Middlesbrough | 4–1 | York City | 24 January 1970 |
| 9 | Derby County | 3–0 | Sheffield United | 24 January 1970 |
| 10 | Swindon Town | 4–2 | Chester | 24 January 1970 |
| 11 | Tranmere Rovers | 0–0 | Northampton Town | 24 January 1970 |
| Replay | Northampton Town | 2–1 | Tranmere Rovers | 27 January 1970 |
| 12 | Tottenham Hotspur | 0–0 | Crystal Palace | 24 January 1970 |
| Replay | Crystal Palace | 1–0 | Tottenham Hotspur | 28 January 1970 |
| 13 | Manchester United | 3–0 | Manchester City | 24 January 1970 |
| 14 | Carlisle United | 2–2 | Aldershot | 24 January 1970 |
| Replay | Aldershot | 1–4 | Carlisle United | 28 January 1970 |
| 15 | Chelsea | 2–2 | Burnley | 24 January 1970 |
| Replay | Burnley | 1–3 | Chelsea | 27 January 1970 |
| 16 | Charlton Athletic | 2–3 | Queens Park Rangers | 24 January 1970 |

### Fifth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 7 February 1970, with one replay played four days later.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Liverpool | 0–0 | Leicester City | 7 February 1970 |
| Replay | Leicester City | 0–2 | Liverpool | 11 February 1970 |
| 2 | Watford | 2–1 | Gillingham | 7 February 1970 |
| 3 | Swindon Town | 3–1 | Scunthorpe United | 7 February 1970 |
| 4 | Queens Park Rangers | 1–0 | Derby County | 7 February 1970 |
| 5 | Northampton Town | 2–8 | Manchester United | 7 February 1970 |
| 6 | Carlisle United | 1–2 | Middlesbrough | 7 February 1970 |
| 7 | Crystal Palace | 1–4 | Chelsea | 7 February 1970 |
| 8 | Leeds United | 2–0 | Mansfield Town | 7 February 1970 |

### Sixth round proper

The four quarter-final ties were played on the 21 February 1970. There was one replay on the following Wednesday.
Replay

### Semi-finals

The semi-final matches were played on Saturday, 14 March 1970 with the Manchester United–Leeds United tie needing two replays to settle the contest over the following 12 days, with the tie needing 219 minutes to produce a goal. Manchester United were made to pay for missed chances in the first two games, including George Best falling over the ball in the first replay, as Leeds came through in the second replay with a Billy Bremner goal. Chelsea came through the other semi final to meet Leeds at Wembley.
Replay
Second Replay

### Third place play-off

Between 1970 and 1974, a third place playoff between the two losing semi-finalists was held.

### Final

The 1970 FA Cup Final was contested by Leeds United and Chelsea at Wembley on the 11 April 1970. The match finished as a 2–2 draw after extra time and so went to a replay. The second final match took place at Old Trafford, Manchester on the 29 April 1970. This match finished 1–1 after 90 minutes, again requiring extra time to be played before Chelsea finished as the victors.