# 1929–30 FA Cup

The 1929–30 FA Cup was the 55th season of the world's oldest football cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup. Arsenal won the competition for the first time, beating Huddersfield Town 2–0 in the final at Wembley.
First Division side Bolton Wanderers were the defending champions, but were eliminated in the third round by Birmingham.
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 7 September 1929 |
| Preliminary round | Saturday 31 September 1929 |
| First round qualifying | Saturday 5 October 1929 |
| Second round qualifying | Saturday 19 October 1929 |
| Third round qualifying | Saturday 2 November 1929 |
| Fourth round qualifying | Saturday 16 November 1929 |
| First round proper | Saturday 30 November 1929 |
| Second round proper | Saturday 14 December 1929 |
| Third round proper | Saturday 11 January 1930 |
| Fourth round proper | Saturday 25 January 1930 |
| Fifth round proper | Saturday 15 February 1930 |
| Sixth round proper | Saturday 1 March 1930 |
| Semi-finals | Saturday 22 March 1930 |
| Final | Saturday 26 April 1930 |

## Qualifying rounds

Most participating clubs that were not members of the Football League joined the competition in the qualifying rounds. York City, who had been elected to the Football League Third Division North during the 1929 close season, also competed in the qualifying rounds of this tournament, being entered in the fourth qualifying round alongside Ashington - the club they defeated in the League ballot.
The 25 winners from the fourth qualifying round were Aldershot, Bath City, Barry, Thames, Wimbledon, Tunbridge Wells Rangers, Northfleet United, Folkestone, Margate, Dagenham Town, Nunhead, Leyton, Dulwich Hamlet, Peterborough & Fletton United, Kettering Town, Wellington Town, Newark Town, Scunthorpe & Lindsey United, Gainsborough Trinity, Manchester Central, Caernarfon Athletic, Lancaster Town and Shildon, along with Ashington and York City.
Those featuring in the main draw for the first time were Barry, Thames, Margate, Dagenham Town, Scunthorpe & Lindsey United, Manchester Central, Caernarfon Athletic and future FA Cup and FA Amateur Cup winners Wimbledon. Tunbridge Wells Rangers was appearing at this stage for the first time since 1905-06 while Newark Town's predecessor outfit Newark F.C. had last competed in the first round proper in 1885-86.
Wellington Town was the most successful club from this season's extra preliminary round, defeating Evesham Town, Worcester City, Shrewsbury Town, Oakengates Town, Cradley Heath and Boston Town before going out to Stockport County in the first round. Another notable extra preliminary contestant was Wealdstone, who lost a fourth qualifying round replay against Dulwich Hamlet at Lower Mead following a famous 7-all draw at Champion Hill in the initial match.

## First round proper

At this stage 41 clubs from the Football League Third Division North and South joined the 25 clubs who came through the qualifying rounds. Crystal Palace and Swindon Town were given byes to the third round. To make the number of matches up, non-league sides Mansfield Town and Ilford were given byes to this round, with Ilford being the winner of the previous season's FA Amateur Cup.
34 matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 30 November 1929. Seven were drawn and went to replays in the following midweek fixture, while third division clubs Clapton Orient and Doncaster Rovers needed second replays to see off qualifiers Folkestone and Shildon respectively.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 2–0 | Torquay United | 30 November 1929 |
| 2 | Barrow | 1–0 | Newark Town | 30 November 1929 |
| 3 | Nelson | 0–3 | Crewe Alexandra | 30 November 1929 |
| 4 | South Shields | 2–4 | Wrexham | 30 November 1929 |
| 5 | Walsall | 1–0 | Exeter City | 30 November 1929 |
| 6 | Gillingham | 0–2 | Margate | 30 November 1929 |
| 7 | Leyton | 4–1 | Merthyr Town | 30 November 1929 |
| 8 | Lincoln City | 3–1 | Wigan Borough | 30 November 1929 |
| 9 | Luton Town | 2–3 | Queens Park Rangers | 30 November 1929 |
| 10 | Gainsborough Trinity | 0–0 | Port Vale | 30 November 1929 |
| Replay | Port Vale | 5–0 | Gainsborough Trinity | 4 December 1929 |
| 11 | Doncaster Rovers | 0–0 | Shildon | 30 November 1929 |
| Replay | Shildon | 1–1 | Doncaster Rovers | 4 December 1929 |
| Replay | Doncaster Rovers | 3–0 | Shildon | 9 December 1929 |
| 12 | Ilford | 0–3 | Watford | 30 November 1929 |
| 13 | Wellington Town | 1–4 | Stockport County | 30 November 1929 |
| 14 | Fulham | 4–0 | Thames | 30 November 1929 |
| 15 | Accrington Stanley | 3–1 | Rochdale | 30 November 1929 |
| 16 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 4–0 | Peterborough & Fletton United | 30 November 1929 |
| 17 | Norwich City | 3–3 | Coventry City | 30 November 1929 |
| Replay | Coventry City | 2–0 | Norwich City | 5 December 1929 |
| 18 | Carlisle United | 2–0 | Halifax Town | 30 November 1929 |
| 19 | Tunbridge Wells Rangers | 1–3 | Bath City | 30 November 1929 |
| 20 | Clapton Orient | 0–0 | Folkestone | 30 November 1929 |
| Replay | Folkestone | 2–2 | Clapton Orient | 4 December 1929 |
| Replay | Clapton Orient | 4–1 | Folkestone | 9 December 1929 |
| 21 | Nunhead | 0–2 | Bristol Rovers | 30 November 1929 |
| 22 | Wimbledon | 1–4 | Northfleet United | 30 November 1929 |
| 23 | Southend United | 1–0 | Brentford | 30 November 1929 |
| 24 | Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 1–0 | Hartlepools United | 30 November 1929 |
| 25 | Mansfield Town | 0–2 | Manchester Central | 30 November 1929 |
| 26 | Barry | 0–0 | Dagenham Town | 30 November 1929 |
| Replay | Dagenham Town | 0–1 | Barry | 4 December 1929 |
| 27 | Newport County | 3–2 | Kettering Town | 30 November 1929 |
| 28 | Southport | 0–0 | Chesterfield | 30 November 1929 |
| Replay | Chesterfield | 3–2 | Southport | 4 December 1929 |
| 29 | Dulwich Hamlet | 0–3 | Plymouth Argyle | 30 November 1929 |
| 30 | New Brighton | 4–1 | Lancaster Town | 30 November 1929 |
| 31 | York City | 2–2 | Tranmere Rovers | 30 November 1929 |
| Replay | Tranmere Rovers | 0–1 | York City | 5 December 1929 |
| 32 | Rotherham United | 3–0 | Ashington | 30 November 1929 |
| 33 | Aldershot | 0–1 | Northampton Town | 30 November 1929 |
| 34 | Caernarfon Athletic | 4–2 | Darlington | 30 November 1929 |

## Second round proper

The matches were played on Saturday, 14 December 1929. Three matches were drawn, with replays taking place in the following midweek fixture.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Chesterfield | 2–0 | Port Vale | 14 December 1929 |
| 2 | Watford | 1–1 | Plymouth Argyle | 14 December 1929 |
| Replay | Plymouth Argyle | 3–0 | Watford | 18 December 1929 |
| 3 | Leyton | 1–4 | Fulham | 14 December 1929 |
| 4 | Doncaster Rovers | 1–0 | New Brighton | 14 December 1929 |
| 5 | Stockport County | 4–0 | Barrow | 14 December 1929 |
| 6 | Queens Park Rangers | 2–1 | Lincoln City | 14 December 1929 |
| 7 | Bristol Rovers | 4–1 | Accrington Stanley | 14 December 1929 |
| 8 | Northampton Town | 6–0 | Margate | 14 December 1929 |
| 9 | Coventry City | 7–1 | Bath City | 14 December 1929 |
| 10 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 4–1 | Barry | 14 December 1929 |
| 11 | Carlisle United | 4–2 | Crewe Alexandra | 14 December 1929 |
| 12 | Clapton Orient | 2–0 | Northfleet United | 14 December 1929 |
| 13 | Southend United | 1–4 | York City | 14 December 1929 |
| 14 | Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 3–3 | Rotherham United | 14 December 1929 |
| Replay | Rotherham United | 5–4 | Scunthorpe United | 19 December 1929 |
| 15 | Newport County | 2–3 | Walsall | 14 December 1929 |
| 16 | Caernarfon Athletic | 1–1 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 14 December 1929 |
| Replay | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 5–2 | Caernarfon Athletic | 18 December 1929 |
| 17 | Manchester Central | 0–1 | Wrexham | 14 December 1929 |

## Third round proper

The 44 First and Second Division clubs entered the competition at this stage, along with Crystal Palace, Swindon Town and amateur side Corinthian.
The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 11 January 1930. Eight matches were drawn and went to replays in the following midweek fixture, of which one went to a second replay. All teams in this round apart from Corinthian were Football League teams, but York City was the last participating side from the qualifying rounds.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Birmingham | 1–0 | Bolton Wanderers | 11 January 1930 |
| 2 | Blackpool | 2–1 | Stockport County | 11 January 1930 |
| 3 | Chesterfield | 1–1 | Middlesbrough | 11 January 1930 |
| Replay | Middlesbrough | 4–3 | Chesterfield | 15 January 1930 |
| 4 | Bury | 0–0 | Huddersfield Town | 11 January 1930 |
| Replay | Huddersfield Town | 3–1 | Bury | 15 January 1930 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 1–2 | Cardiff City | 11 January 1930 |
| 6 | Walsall | 2–0 | Swansea Town | 11 January 1930 |
| 7 | Blackburn Rovers | 4–1 | Northampton Town | 11 January 1930 |
| 8 | Aston Villa | 5–1 | Reading | 11 January 1930 |
| 9 | Sheffield Wednesday | 1–0 | Burnley | 11 January 1930 |
| 10 | Derby County | 5–1 | Bristol City | 11 January 1930 |
| 11 | Doncaster Rovers | 1–0 | Stoke City | 16 January 1930 |
| 12 | Wrexham | 1–0 | West Bromwich Albion | 11 January 1930 |
| 13 | Sheffield United | 2–1 | Leicester City | 11 January 1930 |
| 14 | Newcastle United | 1–1 | York City | 11 January 1930 |
| Replay | York City | 1–2 | Newcastle United | 15 January 1930 |
| 15 | Tottenham Hotspur | 2–2 | Manchester City | 11 January 1930 |
| Replay | Manchester City | 4–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 15 January 1930 |
| 16 | Fulham | 1–1 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 11 January 1930 |
| Replay | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 0–2 | Fulham | 15 January 1930 |
| 17 | Barnsley | 0–1 | Bradford Park Avenue | 11 January 1930 |
| 18 | Coventry City | 1–2 | Sunderland | 11 January 1930 |
| 19 | Portsmouth | 2–0 | Preston North End | 11 January 1930 |
| 20 | West Ham United | 4–0 | Notts County | 11 January 1930 |
| 21 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1–1 | Grimsby Town | 11 January 1930 |
| Replay | Grimsby Town | 0–1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 14 January 1930 |
| 22 | Manchester United | 0–2 | Swindon Town | 11 January 1930 |
| 23 | Plymouth Argyle | 3–4 | Hull City | 11 January 1930 |
| 24 | Bradford City | 4–1 | Southampton | 11 January 1930 |
| 25 | Carlisle United | 2–4 | Everton | 11 January 1930 |
| 26 | Clapton Orient | 1–0 | Bristol Rovers | 11 January 1930 |
| 27 | Oldham Athletic | 1–0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 11 January 1930 |
| 28 | Charlton Athletic | 1–1 | Queens Park Rangers | 11 January 1930 |
| Replay | Queens Park Rangers | 0–3 | Charlton Athletic | 16 January 1930 |
| 29 | Arsenal | 2–0 | Chelsea | 11 January 1930 |
| 30 | Leeds United | 8–1 | Crystal Palace | 11 January 1930 |
| 31 | Corinthian | 2–2 | Millwall | 11 January 1930 |
| Replay | Millwall | 1–1 | Corinthian | 15 January 1930 |
| Replay | Millwall | 5–1 | Corinthian | 20 January 1930 |
| 32 | Rotherham United | 0–5 | Nottingham Forest | 11 January 1930 |

## Fourth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 25 January 1930. Five games were drawn and went to replays in the following midweek fixture, of which one went to a second replay.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Nottingham Forest | 2–1 | Fulham | 25 January 1930 |
| 2 | Blackburn Rovers | 4–1 | Everton | 25 January 1930 |
| 3 | Aston Villa | 3–1 | Walsall | 25 January 1930 |
| 4 | Middlesbrough | 1–1 | Charlton Athletic | 25 January 1930 |
| Replay | Charlton Athletic | 1–1 | Middlesbrough | 29 January 1930 |
| Replay | Middlesbrough | 1–0 | Charlton Athletic | 3 February 1930 |
| 5 | Sunderland | 2–1 | Cardiff City | 25 January 1930 |
| 6 | Derby County | 1–1 | Bradford Park Avenue | 25 January 1930 |
| Replay | Bradford Park Avenue | 2–1 | Derby County | 29 January 1930 |
| 7 | Swindon Town | 1–1 | Manchester City | 25 January 1930 |
| Replay | Manchester City | 10–1 | Swindon Town | 29 January 1930 |
| 8 | Wrexham | 0–0 | Bradford City | 25 January 1930 |
| Replay | Bradford City | 2–1 | Wrexham | 27 January 1930 |
| 9 | Newcastle United | 3–1 | Clapton Orient | 25 January 1930 |
| 10 | Portsmouth | 0–1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 25 January 1930 |
| 11 | West Ham United | 4–1 | Leeds United | 25 January 1930 |
| 12 | Millwall | 4–0 | Doncaster Rovers | 25 January 1930 |
| 13 | Hull City | 3–1 | Blackpool | 25 January 1930 |
| 14 | Oldham Athletic | 3–4 | Sheffield Wednesday | 25 January 1930 |
| 15 | Huddersfield Town | 2–1 | Sheffield United | 25 January 1930 |
| 16 | Arsenal | 2–2 | Birmingham | 25 January 1930 |
| Replay | Birmingham | 0–1 | Arsenal | 29 January 1930 |

## Fifth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 15 February 1930. There was one replay, between Sunderland and Nottingham Forest, played in the next midweek fixture.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Aston Villa | 4–1 | Blackburn Rovers | 15 February 1930 |
| 2 | Sheffield Wednesday | 5–1 | Bradford Park Avenue | 15 February 1930 |
| 3 | Middlesbrough | 0–2 | Arsenal | 15 February 1930 |
| 4 | Sunderland | 2–2 | Nottingham Forest | 15 February 1930 |
| Replay | Nottingham Forest | 3–1 | Sunderland | 19 February 1930 |
| 5 | Newcastle United | 3–0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 15 February 1930 |
| 6 | Manchester City | 1–2 | Hull City | 15 February 1930 |
| 7 | West Ham United | 4–1 | Millwall | 15 February 1930 |
| 8 | Huddersfield Town | 2–1 | Bradford City | 15 February 1930 |

## Sixth round proper

The four Sixth Round ties were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 1 March 1930. There were two replays.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Nottingham Forest | 2–2 | Sheffield Wednesday | 1 March 1930 |
| Replay | Sheffield Wednesday | 3–1 | Nottingham Forest | 5 March 1930 |
| 2 | Aston Villa | 1–2 | Huddersfield Town | 1 March 1930 |
| 3 | Newcastle United | 1–1 | Hull City | 1 March 1930 |
| Replay | Hull City | 1–0 | Newcastle United | 6 March 1930 |
| 4 | West Ham United | 0–3 | Arsenal | 1 March 1930 |

## Semi-finals

The semi-final matches were played on Saturday, 22 March 1930. Arsenal and Hull City drew, replaying their game four days later. Huddersfield Town and Arsenal won their matches to meet in the final at Wembley.

### Replay
## Final

The 1930 FA Cup Final was contested by Arsenal and Huddersfield Town at Wembley. Arsenal won 2–0, with goals from Alex James and Jack Lambert.

### Match details

| Arsenal | Huddersfield Town |