# 1961–62 FA Cup

The 1961–62 FA Cup was the 81st staging of the world's oldest football cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup. Tottenham Hotspur won the competition for the fourth time, beating Burnley 3–1 in the final at Wembley. In doing so, they became the first team to retain the FA Cup since Newcastle United's victory in 1952, and the fourth team ever to do so.
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. 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 | 26 August 1961 |
| First qualifying round | 9 September 1961 |
| Second qualifying round | 23 September 1961 |
| Third qualifying round | 7 October 1961 |
| Fourth qualifying round | 21 October 1961 |
| First round proper | 4 November 1961 |
| Second round proper | 25 November 1961 |
| Third round proper | 6 January 1962 |
| Fourth round proper | 27 January 1962 |
| Fifth round proper | 17 February 1962 |
| Sixth round proper | 10 March 1962 |
| Semi-finals | 31 March 1962 |
| Final | 5 May 1962 |

## 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, Shildon, Ashington, South Shields, Morecambe, Rhyl, Northwich Victoria, Brierley Hill Alliance, Hereford United, Grantham, Worksop Town, Gateshead, Kettering Town, Romford, Chelmsford City, King's Lynn, Barnet, Tunbridge Wells United, Harwich & Parkeston, Ashford Town (Kent), Margate, Dartford, Wycombe Wanderers, Banbury Spencer, Oxford United, Weymouth, Bridgwater Town, Weston-Super-Mare, Yeovil Town and Barry Town.
Those appearing in the competition proper for the first time were Brierley Hill Alliance and Weston-Super-Mare. Of the others, Ashington had last featured at this stage in 1952–53, Barry Town in 1951-52, Dartford in 1950-51, Grantham in 1949-50 and Banbury Spencer in 1947-48.
Morecambe participated in seven rounds of this season's tournament, defeating Clitheroe, Penrith, Burscough, Wigan Athletic, South Shields and Chester before going out to Weymouth in a rare third round All-Non League tie.

## 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 draw were Walthamstow Avenue and West Auckland Town, who 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 4 November 1961, although three games were not played until the midweek fixture. Nine were drawn and went to replays, with Peterborough United and Colchester United requiring a second replay which was played at Carrow Road.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Chester | 4–1 | Ashington | 4 November 1961 |
| 2 | Darlington | 0–4 | Carlisle United | 4 November 1961 |
| 3 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 0–3 | Margate | 4 November 1961 |
| 4 | Bristol City | 1–1 | Hereford United | 4 November 1961 |
| Replay | Hereford United | 2–5 | Bristol City | 8 November 1961 |
| 5 | Rochdale | 2–0 | Halifax Town | 4 November 1961 |
| 6 | Weymouth | 1–0 | Barnet | 4 November 1961 |
| 7 | Reading | 1–1 | Newport County | 4 November 1961 |
| Replay | Newport County | 1–0 | Reading | 6 November 1961 |
| 8 | Notts County | 4–2 | Yeovil Town | 4 November 1961 |
| 9 | Crewe Alexandra | 2–0 | Lincoln City | 4 November 1961 |
| 10 | Swindon Town | 2–2 | Kettering Town | 4 November 1961 |
| Replay | Kettering Town | 3–0 | Swindon Town | 8 November 1961 |
| 11 | Shrewsbury Town | 7–1 | Banbury Spencer | 4 November 1961 |
| 12 | Doncaster Rovers | 0–4 | Chesterfield | 4 November 1961 |
| 13 | Wrexham | 3–2 | Barrow | 4 November 1961 |
| 14 | Brierley Hill Alliance | 3–0 | Grantham | 4 November 1961 |
| 15 | Tranmere Rovers | 2–3 | Gateshead | 4 November 1961 |
| 16 | Stockport County | 0–1 | Accrington Stanley | 4 November 1961 |
| 17 | Wycombe Wanderers | 0–0 | Ashford Town (Kent) | 4 November 1961 |
| Replay | Ashford Town (Kent) | 3–0 | Wycombe Wanderers | 8 November 1961 |
| 18 | Brentford | 3–0 | Oxford United | 4 November 1961 |
| 19 | Northampton Town | 2–0 | Millwall | 4 November 1961 |
| 20 | Coventry City | 2–0 | Gillingham | 4 November 1961 |
| 21 | Bradford City | 1–0 | York City | 4 November 1961 |
| 22 | Hull City | 5–0 | Rhyl | 4 November 1961 |
| 23 | Oldham Athletic | 5–2 | Shildon | 4 November 1961 |
| 24 | West Auckland Town | 3–3 | Barnsley | 4 November 1961 |
| Replay | Barnsley | 2–0 | West Auckland Town | 8 November 1961 |
| 25 | Crystal Palace | 3–0 | Portsmouth | 4 November 1961 |
| 26 | Southend United | 0–2 | Watford | 4 November 1961 |
| 27 | Bradford Park Avenue | 0–1 | Port Vale | 4 November 1961 |
| 28 | Exeter City | 3–3 | Dartford | 4 November 1961 |
| Replay | Dartford | 2–1 | Exeter City | 8 November 1961 |
| 29 | Hartlepools United | 5–1 | Blyth Spartans | 4 November 1961 |
| 30 | Mansfield Town | 3–2 | Grimsby Town | 4 November 1961 |
| 31 | Southport | 1–0 | Northwich Victoria | 4 November 1961 |
| 32 | Morecambe | 2–1 | South Shields | 4 November 1961 |
| 33 | Torquay United | 5–1 | Harwich & Parkeston | 4 November 1961 |
| 34 | Workington | 2–0 | Worksop Town | 4 November 1961 |
| 35 | Walthamstow Avenue | 2–3 | Romford | 4 November 1961 |
| 36 | Aldershot | 3–1 | Tunbridge Wells United | 4 November 1961 |
| 37 | Peterborough United | 3–3 | Colchester United | 4 November 1961 |
| Replay | Colchester United | 2–2 | Peterborough United | 6 November 1961 |
| Replay | Peterborough United | 3–0 | Colchester United | 13 November 1961 |
| 38 | Chelmsford City | 1–2 | King's Lynn | 4 November 1961 |
| 39 | Barry Town | 1–1 | Queens Park Rangers | 4 November 1961 |
| Replay | Queens Park Rangers | 7–0 | Barry Town | 6 November 1961 |
| 40 | Bridgwater Town | 0–0 | Weston-Super-Mare | 4 November 1961 |
| Replay | Weston-Super-Mare | 0–1 | Bridgwater Town | 9 November 1961 |

## Second round proper

The matches were scheduled for 25 November 1961. Four matches were drawn, with replays taking place later the same week.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Ashford Town (Kent) | 0–3 | Queens Park Rangers | 25 November 1961 |
| 2 | Chester | 0–1 | Morecambe | 25 November 1961 |
| 3 | Chesterfield | 2–2 | Oldham Athletic | 25 November 1961 |
| Replay | Oldham Athletic | 4–2 | Chesterfield | 29 November 1961 |
| 4 | Bristol City | 8–2 | Dartford | 25 November 1961 |
| 5 | Rochdale | 1–2 | Wrexham | 25 November 1961 |
| 6 | Weymouth | 1–0 | Newport County | 25 November 1961 |
| 7 | Crewe Alexandra | 1–1 | Port Vale | 25 November 1961 |
| Replay | Port Vale | 3–0 | Crewe Alexandra | 27 November 1961 |
| 8 | Shrewsbury Town | 3–0 | Brierley Hill Alliance | 25 November 1961 |
| 9 | Barnsley | 1–2 | Carlisle United | 25 November 1961 |
| 10 | Northampton Town | 3–0 | Kettering Town | 25 November 1961 |
| 11 | Coventry City | 1–2 | King's Lynn | 25 November 1961 |
| 12 | Hull City | 0–2 | Bradford City | 25 November 1961 |
| 13 | Hartlepools United | 2–1 | Accrington Stanley | 25 November 1961 |
| 14 | Margate | 1–1 | Notts County | 25 November 1961 |
| Replay | Notts County | 3–1 | Margate | 30 November 1961 |
| 15 | Southport | 4–2 | Mansfield Town | 25 November 1961 |
| 16 | Torquay United | 1–4 | Peterborough United | 25 November 1961 |
| 17 | Aldershot | 2–2 | Brentford | 25 November 1961 |
| Replay | Brentford | 2–0 | Aldershot | 28 November 1961 |
| 18 | Romford | 1–3 | Watford | 25 November 1961 |
| 19 | Gateshead | 0–2 | Workington | 25 November 1961 |
| 20 | Bridgwater Town | 0–3 | Crystal Palace | 25 November 1961 |

## Third round proper

The 44 First and Second Division clubs entered the competition at this stage. The matches were scheduled for 6 January 1962, with seven matches postponed until later dates. Ten matches were drawn and went to replays, with two of these requiring a second replay.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Blackpool | 0–0 | West Bromwich Albion | 6 January 1962 |
| Replay | West Bromwich Albion | 2–1 | Blackpool | 10 January 1962 |
| 2 | Bristol City | 0–0 | Walsall | 6 January 1962 |
| Replay | Walsall | 4–1 | Bristol City | 9 January 1962 |
| 3 | Burnley | 6–1 | Queens Park Rangers | 6 January 1962 |
| 4 | Bury | 0–0 | Sheffield United | 6 January 1962 |
| Replay | Sheffield United | 2–2 | Bury | 10 January 1962 |
| Replay | Bury | 0–2 | Sheffield United | 15 January 1962 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 4–3 | Chelsea | 6 January 1962 |
| 6 | Preston North End | 3–2 | Watford | 6 January 1962 |
| 7 | Southampton | 2–2 | Sunderland | 6 January 1962 |
| Replay | Sunderland | 3–0 | Southampton | 10 January 1962 |
| 8 | Leicester City | 1–1 | Stoke City | 10 January 1962 |
| Replay | Stoke City | 5–2 | Leicester City | 15 January 1962 |
| 9 | Notts County | 0–1 | Manchester City | 6 January 1962 |
| 10 | Aston Villa | 4–3 | Crystal Palace | 6 January 1962 |
| 11 | Sheffield Wednesday | 1–0 | Swansea Town | 9 January 1962 |
| 12 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3–1 | Carlisle United | 8 January 1962 |
| 13 | Middlesbrough | 1–0 | Cardiff City | 10 January 1962 |
| 14 | Everton | 4–0 | King's Lynn | 6 January 1962 |
| 15 | Ipswich Town | 1–1 | Luton Town | 6 January 1962 |
| Replay | Luton Town | 1–1 | Ipswich Town | 10 January 1962 |
| Replay | Ipswich Town | 5–1 | Luton Town | 15 January 1962 |
| 16 | Newcastle United | 0–1 | Peterborough United | 6 January 1962 |
| 17 | Fulham | 3–1 | Hartlepools United | 6 January 1962 |
| 18 | Brentford | 1–1 | Leyton Orient | 6 January 1962 |
| Replay | Leyton Orient | 2–1 | Brentford | 8 January 1962 |
| 19 | Bristol Rovers | 1–1 | Oldham Athletic | 6 January 1962 |
| Replay | Oldham Athletic | 2–0 | Bristol Rovers | 10 January 1962 |
| 20 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0–3 | Blackburn Rovers | 6 January 1962 |
| 21 | Manchester United | 2–1 | Bolton Wanderers | 6 January 1962 |
| 22 | Norwich City | 3–1 | Wrexham | 10 January 1962 |
| 23 | Plymouth Argyle | 3–0 | West Ham United | 6 January 1962 |
| 24 | Huddersfield Town | 4–3 | Rotherham United | 9 January 1962 |
| 25 | Port Vale | 3–1 | Northampton Town | 6 January 1962 |
| 26 | Charlton Athletic | 1–0 | Scunthorpe United | 6 January 1962 |
| 27 | Arsenal | 3–0 | Bradford City | 6 January 1962 |
| 28 | Southport | 1–3 | Shrewsbury Town | 9 January 1962 |
| 29 | Morecambe | 0–1 | Weymouth | 6 January 1962 |
| 30 | Leeds United | 2–2 | Derby County | 6 January 1962 |
| Replay | Derby County | 3–1 | Leeds United | 10 January 1962 |
| 31 | Workington | 1–2 | Nottingham Forest | 6 January 1962 |
| 32 | Birmingham City | 3–3 | Tottenham Hotspur | 6 January 1962 |
| Replay | Tottenham Hotspur | 4–2 | Birmingham City | 10 January 1962 |

## Fourth round proper

The matches were scheduled for 27 January 1962, with three Lancashire-based games postponed until the midweek fixtures. Five matches were drawn and went to replays, which were all played in the following midweek match. Weymouth was the last non-league club left in the competition.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Burnley | 1–1 | Leyton Orient | 30 January 1962 |
| Replay | Leyton Orient | 0–1 | Burnley | 6 February 1962 |
| 2 | Preston North End | 2–0 | Weymouth | 29 January 1962 |
| 3 | Nottingham Forest | 0–2 | Sheffield Wednesday | 27 January 1962 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 2–1 | Huddersfield Town | 27 January 1962 |
| 5 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–2 | West Bromwich Albion | 27 January 1962 |
| 6 | Sunderland | 0–0 | Port Vale | 27 January 1962 |
| Replay | Port Vale | 3–1 | Sunderland | 31 January 1962 |
| 7 | Everton | 2–0 | Manchester City | 27 January 1962 |
| 8 | Shrewsbury Town | 2–2 | Middlesbrough | 27 January 1962 |
| Replay | Middlesbrough | 5–1 | Shrewsbury Town | 31 January 1962 |
| 9 | Fulham | 2–2 | Walsall | 27 January 1962 |
| Replay | Walsall | 0–2 | Fulham | 30 January 1962 |
| 10 | Manchester United | 1–0 | Arsenal | 31 January 1962 |
| 11 | Norwich City | 1–1 | Ipswich Town | 27 January 1962 |
| Replay | Ipswich Town | 1–2 | Norwich City | 30 January 1962 |
| 12 | Plymouth Argyle | 1–5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 27 January 1962 |
| 13 | Oldham Athletic | 1–2 | Liverpool | 27 January 1962 |
| 14 | Charlton Athletic | 2–1 | Derby County | 27 January 1962 |
| 15 | Stoke City | 0–1 | Blackburn Rovers | 27 January 1962 |
| 16 | Peterborough United | 1–3 | Sheffield United | 27 January 1962 |

## Fifth round proper

The matches were scheduled for 17 February 1962. Two matches went to replays in the following mid-week fixtures, with the Liverpool–Preston North End game requiring a second replay (at Old Trafford) before the tie was settled.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Burnley | 3–1 | Everton | 17 February 1962 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 0–0 | Preston North End | 17 February 1962 |
| Replay | Preston North End | 0–0 | Liverpool | 20 February 1962 |
| Replay | Liverpool | 0–1 | Preston North End | 26 February 1962 |
| 3 | Blackburn Rovers | 2–1 | Middlesbrough | 17 February 1962 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 2–1 | Charlton Athletic | 17 February 1962 |
| 5 | West Bromwich Albion | 2–4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 17 February 1962 |
| 6 | Sheffield United | 3–1 | Norwich City | 17 February 1962 |
| 7 | Fulham | 1–0 | Port Vale | 17 February 1962 |
| 8 | Manchester United | 0–0 | Sheffield Wednesday | 17 February 1962 |
| Replay | Sheffield Wednesday | 0–2 | Manchester United | 21 February 1962 |

## Sixth round proper

The four quarter-final ties were scheduled to be played on 10 March 1962. Two matches went to replays on the 14th before being settled.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Preston North End | 0–0 | Manchester United | 10 March 1962 |
| Replay | Manchester United | 2–1 | Preston North End | 14 March 1962 |
| 2 | Sheffield United | 0–1 | Burnley | 10 March 1962 |
| 3 | Tottenham Hotspur | 2–0 | Aston Villa | 10 March 1962 |
| 4 | Fulham | 2–2 | Blackburn Rovers | 10 March 1962 |
| Replay | Blackburn Rovers | 0–1 | Fulham | 14 March 1962 |

## Semi-finals

The semi-final matches were played on 31 March 1962 with a replay being required between Burnley and Fulham on 9 April 1962. Tottenham and Burnley came through the semi-final round to meet at Wembley.

### Replay
## Final

The 1962 FA Cup final took place on 5 May 1962 at Wembley Stadium and was won by Tottenham Hotspur over Burnley, by a 3–1 scoreline. Due to the lack of passion and excitement, replaced by patience and cautious play, the final was dubbed "The Chessboard Final". Tottenham took to the field as holders, having won the League and FA Cup Double in 1961.