# 1937–38 FA Cup

The 1937–38 FA Cup was the 63rd staging of the world's oldest football cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup. Preston North End won the competition for the second time, beating Huddersfield Town 1–0 after extra time 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 4 September 1937 |
| Preliminary round | Saturday 18 September 1937 |
| First round qualifying | Saturday 2 October 1937 |
| Second round qualifying | Saturday 16 October 1937 |
| Third round qualifying | Saturday 30 October 1937 |
| Fourth round qualifying | Saturday 13 November 1937 |
| First round proper | Saturday 27 November 1937 |
| Second round proper | Saturday 11 December 1937 |
| Third round proper | Saturday 8 January 1938 |
| Fourth round proper | Saturday 22 January 1938 |
| Fifth round proper | Saturday 12 February 1938 |
| Sixth round proper | Saturday 5 March 1938 |
| Semi-Finals | Saturday 26 March 1938 |
| Final | Saturday 30 April 1938 |

## Qualifying rounds

Most participating clubs 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 25 winners from this season's fourth qualifying round were Scarborough, Walker Celtic, Blyth Spartans, Workington, South Liverpool, Wigan Athletic, Lancaster Town, Gainsborough Trinity, Scunthorpe & Lindsey United, Kidderminster Harriers, Wellington Town, Burton Town, King's Lynn, Ipswich Town, Kettering Town, Enfield, Tunbridge Wells Rangers, Dartford, Folkestone, Corinthian, Bromley, Guildford City, Yeovil & Petter's United, Cheltenham Town and Westbury United.
Of those, Walker Celtic, Bromley and Westbury United were the only clubs appearing in the competition proper for the first time, although King's Lynn had not featured at this stage since 1905–06. Additionally, after more than a decade of receiving direct byes to various stages of the main draw, Corinthian had successfully navigated the qualifying rounds for the first time.
Bromley was the most successful club from this season's extra preliminary round, defeating Beckenham, Darenth Park, Aylesford Paper Mills, London Paper Mills, Sittingbourne, Wimbledon and King's Lynn before going out to Scarborough in the second round proper.

## First round proper

At this stage 41 clubs from the Football League Third Division North and South joined the 25 non-league clubs that came through the qualifying rounds. Chester, Millwall and Notts County were given byes to the third round. To make the number of matches up, non-league Dulwich Hamlet and Walthamstow Avenue were given byes to this round, with Dulwich Hamlet having won the previous season's FA Amateur Cup.
34 matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 27 November 1937. Nine were drawn and went to replays in the following midweek fixture, with one of these going to a second replay.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Darlington | 0–2 | Scarborough | 27 November 1937 |
| 2 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 0–0 | Dartford | 27 November 1937 |
| Replay | Dartford | 0–6 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 1 December 1937 |
| 3 | Barrow | 0–1 | Crewe Alexandra | 27 November 1937 |
| 4 | Bristol City | 3–0 | Enfield | 27 November 1937 |
| 5 | Rochdale | 1–1 | Lincoln City | 27 November 1937 |
| Replay | Lincoln City | 2–0 | Rochdale | 1 December 1937 |
| 6 | Watford | 3–0 | Cheltenham Town | 27 November 1937 |
| 7 | Walsall | 4–0 | Gateshead | 27 November 1937 |
| 8 | Gillingham | 3–4 | Swindon Town | 27 November 1937 |
| 9 | Doncaster Rovers | 7–0 | Blyth Spartans | 27 November 1937 |
| 10 | Wrexham | 2–1 | Oldham Athletic | 27 November 1937 |
| 11 | Tranmere Rovers | 2–1 | Carlisle United | 27 November 1937 |
| 12 | Wellington Town | 1–2 | Mansfield Town | 27 November 1937 |
| 13 | Kidderminster Harriers | 2–2 | Newport County | 27 November 1937 |
| Replay | Newport County | 4–1 | Kidderminster Harriers | 2 December 1937 |
| 14 | Accrington Stanley | 1–1 | Lancaster Town | 27 November 1937 |
| Replay | Lancaster Town | 1–1 | Accrington Stanley | 1 December 1937 |
| Replay | Accrington Stanley | 4–0 | Lancaster Town | 6 December 1937 |
| 15 | Bristol Rovers | 1–8 | Queens Park Rangers | 27 November 1937 |
| 16 | Northampton Town | 1–2 | Cardiff City | 27 November 1937 |
| 17 | King's Lynn | 0–4 | Bromley | 27 November 1937 |
| 18 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 5–1 | Tunbridge Wells Rangers | 27 November 1937 |
| 19 | Hull City | 4–0 | Scunthorpe United | 27 November 1937 |
| 20 | Crystal Palace | 2–2 | Kettering Town | 27 November 1937 |
| Replay | Kettering Town | 0–4 | Crystal Palace | 2 December 1937 |
| 21 | Exeter City | 1–0 | Folkestone | 27 November 1937 |
| 22 | Hartlepools United | 3–1 | Southport | 27 November 1937 |
| 23 | Burton Town | 1–1 | Rotherham United | 27 November 1937 |
| Replay | Rotherham United | 3–0 | Burton Town | 29 November 1937 |
| 24 | Port Vale | 1–1 | Gainsborough Trinity | 27 November 1937 |
| Replay | Gainsborough Trinity | 2–1 | Port Vale | 1 December 1937 |
| 25 | Yeovil & Petter's United | 2–1 | Ipswich Town | 27 November 1937 |
| 26 | Dulwich Hamlet | 1–2 | Aldershot | 27 November 1937 |
| 27 | Walker Celtic | 1–1 | Bradford City | 27 November 1937 |
| Replay | Bradford City | 11–3 | Walker Celtic | 1 December 1937 |
| 28 | New Brighton | 5–0 | Workington | 27 November 1937 |
| 29 | Torquay United | 1–2 | Clapton Orient | 27 November 1937 |
| 30 | Westbury United | 1–3 | Walthamstow Avenue | 27 November 1937 |
| 31 | Corinthian | 0–2 | Southend United | 27 November 1937 |
| 32 | York City | 1–1 | Halifax Town | 27 November 1937 |
| Replay | Halifax Town | 0–1 | York City | 1 December 1937 |
| 33 | Guildford City | 1–0 | Reading | 27 November 1937 |
| 34 | Wigan Athletic | 1–4 | South Liverpool | 27 November 1937 |

## Second round proper

The matches were played on Saturday, 11 December 1937, with two matches postponed until the 15th. Four matches were drawn, with replays taking place in the following midweek fixture.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Watford | 3–0 | Walsall | 11 December 1937 |
| 2 | Crewe Alexandra | 2–2 | New Brighton | 15 December 1937 |
| Replay | New Brighton | 4–1 | Crewe Alexandra | 20 December 1937 |
| 3 | Swindon Town | 2–1 | Queens Park Rangers | 11 December 1937 |
| 4 | Scarborough | 4–1 | Bromley | 11 December 1937 |
| 5 | Doncaster Rovers | 4–0 | Guildford City | 11 December 1937 |
| 6 | Wrexham | 1–2 | Bradford City | 11 December 1937 |
| 7 | Tranmere Rovers | 3–1 | Hartlepools United | 11 December 1937 |
| 8 | Accrington Stanley | 0–1 | Crystal Palace | 11 December 1937 |
| 9 | South Liverpool | 1–1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 11 December 1937 |
| Replay | Brighton & Hove Albion | 6–0 | South Liverpool | 15 December 1937 |
| 10 | Clapton Orient | 2–2 | York City | 11 December 1937 |
| Replay | York City | 1–0 | Clapton Orient | 15 December 1937 |
| 11 | Exeter City | 1–2 | Hull City | 11 December 1937 |
| 12 | Mansfield Town | 2–1 | Lincoln City | 15 December 1937 |
| 13 | Cardiff City | 1–1 | Bristol City | 11 December 1937 |
| Replay | Bristol City | 0–2 | Cardiff City | 15 December 1937 |
| 14 | Newport County | 2–1 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 11 December 1937 |
| 15 | Yeovil & Petter's United | 2–1 | Gainsborough Trinity | 11 December 1937 |
| 16 | Walthamstow Avenue | 0–1 | Southend United | 11 December 1937 |
| 17 | Rotherham United | 1–3 | Aldershot | 11 December 1937 |

## Third round proper

The 44 First and Second Division clubs entered the competition at this stage along with Chester, Millwall and Notts County.
The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 8 January 1938. Seven matches were drawn and went to replays, with one of these requiring a second replay to settle the fixture. Scarborough and Yeovil & Petter's United were the last non-league clubs remaining in the competition.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Birmingham | 0–1 | Blackpool | 8 January 1938 |
| 2 | Bury | 2–0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 8 January 1938 |
| 3 | Preston North End | 3–0 | West Ham United | 8 January 1938 |
| 4 | Nottingham Forest | 3–1 | Southampton | 8 January 1938 |
| 5 | Sheffield Wednesday | 1–1 | Burnley | 8 January 1938 |
| Replay | Burnley | 3–1 | Sheffield Wednesday | 12 January 1938 |
| 6 | Grimsby Town | 1–1 | Swindon Town | 8 January 1938 |
| Replay | Swindon Town | 2–1 | Grimsby Town | 12 January 1938 |
| 7 | Middlesbrough | 2–0 | Stockport County | 8 January 1938 |
| 8 | West Bromwich Albion | 1–0 | Newcastle United | 8 January 1938 |
| 9 | Sunderland | 1–0 | Watford | 8 January 1938 |
| 10 | Derby County | 1–2 | Stoke City | 8 January 1938 |
| 11 | Scarborough | 1–1 | Luton Town | 8 January 1938 |
| Replay | Luton Town | 5–1 | Scarborough | 12 January 1938 |
| 12 | Doncaster Rovers | 0–2 | Sheffield United | 8 January 1938 |
| 13 | Tranmere Rovers | 1–2 | Portsmouth | 8 January 1938 |
| 14 | Tottenham Hotspur | 3–2 | Blackburn Rovers | 8 January 1938 |
| 15 | Brentford | 3–1 | Fulham | 8 January 1938 |
| 16 | Manchester United | 3–0 | Yeovil & Petter's United | 8 January 1938 |
| 17 | Norwich City | 2–3 | Aston Villa | 8 January 1938 |
| 18 | Bradford City | 1–1 | Chesterfield | 8 January 1938 |
| Replay | Chesterfield | 1–1 | Bradford City | 12 January 1938 |
| Replay | Bradford City | 0–2 | Chesterfield | 17 January 1938 |
| 19 | Millwall | 2–2 | Manchester City | 8 January 1938 |
| Replay | Manchester City | 3–1 | Millwall | 12 January 1938 |
| 20 | Crystal Palace | 0–0 | Liverpool | 8 January 1938 |
| Replay | Liverpool | 3–1 | Crystal Palace | 12 January 1938 |
| 21 | Chelsea | 0–1 | Everton | 8 January 1938 |
| 22 | Southend United | 2–2 | Barnsley | 8 January 1938 |
| Replay | Barnsley | 2–1 | Southend United | 11 January 1938 |
| 23 | Bradford Park Avenue | 7–4 | Newport County | 8 January 1938 |
| 24 | Huddersfield Town | 3–1 | Hull City | 8 January 1938 |
| 25 | Mansfield Town | 1–2 | Leicester City | 8 January 1938 |
| 26 | Swansea Town | 0–4 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 8 January 1938 |
| 27 | Charlton Athletic | 5–0 | Cardiff City | 8 January 1938 |
| 28 | Arsenal | 3–1 | Bolton Wanderers | 8 January 1938 |
| 29 | Leeds United | 3–1 | Chester | 8 January 1938 |
| 30 | New Brighton | 1–0 | Plymouth Argyle | 8 January 1938 |
| 31 | York City | 3–2 | Coventry City | 8 January 1938 |
| 32 | Aldershot | 1–3 | Notts County | 8 January 1938 |

## Fourth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 22 January 1938. Four games were drawn and went to replays.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Chesterfield | 3–2 | Burnley | 22 January 1938 |
| 2 | Preston North End | 2–0 | Leicester City | 22 January 1938 |
| 3 | Nottingham Forest | 1–3 | Middlesbrough | 22 January 1938 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 4–0 | Blackpool | 22 January 1938 |
| 5 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–2 | Arsenal | 22 January 1938 |
| 6 | Luton Town | 2–1 | Swindon Town | 22 January 1938 |
| 7 | Everton | 0–1 | Sunderland | 22 January 1938 |
| 8 | Sheffield United | 1–1 | Liverpool | 22 January 1938 |
| Replay | Liverpool | 1–0 | Sheffield United | 26 January 1938 |
| 9 | Manchester City | 3–1 | Bury | 22 January 1938 |
| 10 | Barnsley | 2–2 | Manchester United | 22 January 1938 |
| Replay | Manchester United | 1–0 | Barnsley | 26 January 1938 |
| 11 | Brentford | 2–1 | Portsmouth | 22 January 1938 |
| 12 | Bradford Park Avenue | 1–1 | Stoke City | 22 January 1938 |
| Replay | Stoke City | 1–2 | Bradford Park Avenue | 26 January 1938 |
| 13 | Huddersfield Town | 1–0 | Notts County | 22 January 1938 |
| 14 | Charlton Athletic | 2–1 | Leeds United | 22 January 1938 |
| 15 | New Brighton | 0–0 | Tottenham Hotspur | 22 January 1938 |
| Replay | Tottenham Hotspur | 5–2 | New Brighton | 26 January 1938 |
| 16 | York City | 3–2 | West Bromwich Albion | 22 January 1938 |

## Fifth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 12 February 1938. There were two replays, of which one went to a second replay.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Chesterfield | 2–2 | Tottenham Hotspur | 12 February 1938 |
| Replay | Tottenham Hotspur | 2–1 | Chesterfield | 16 February 1938 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 0–1 | Huddersfield Town | 12 February 1938 |
| 3 | Sunderland | 1–0 | Bradford Park Avenue | 12 February 1938 |
| 4 | Luton Town | 1–3 | Manchester City | 12 February 1938 |
| 5 | Brentford | 2–0 | Manchester United | 12 February 1938 |
| 6 | Charlton Athletic | 1–1 | Aston Villa | 12 February 1938 |
| Replay | Aston Villa | 2–2 | Charlton Athletic | 16 February 1938 |
| Replay | Aston Villa | 4–1 | Charlton Athletic | 21 February 1938 |
| 7 | Arsenal | 0–1 | Preston North End | 12 February 1938 |
| 8 | York City | 1–0 | Middlesbrough | 12 February 1938 |

## Sixth round proper

The four quarter-final ties were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 5 March 1938. There was one replay, in the Huddersfield Town–York City match.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Aston Villa | 3–2 | Manchester City | 5 March 1938 |
| 2 | Tottenham Hotspur | 0–1 | Sunderland | 5 March 1938 |
| 3 | Brentford | 0–3 | Preston North End | 5 March 1938 |
| 4 | York City | 0–0 | Huddersfield Town | 5 March 1938 |
| Replay | Huddersfield Town | 2–1 | York City | 9 March 1938 |

## Semi-finals

The semi-final matches were played on Saturday, 26 March 1938. Preston North End and Huddersfield Town won their matches to meet in the final at Wembley.

## Final

The 1938 FA Cup Final was contested by Preston North End and Huddersfield Town at Wembley. Preston, losing finalists the previous year, won by a single goal. After 29 minutes of extra time it was still 0–0 and BBC commentator Thomas Woodrooffe said "if there's a goal scored now, I'll eat my hat". Seconds later, Preston were awarded a penalty, from which George Mutch scored the winning goal; Woodrooffe kept his promise.

### Match details

| Preston North End | Huddersfield Town |