# 1958–59 FA Cup

The 1958–59 FA Cup was the 78th staging of the world's oldest football cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup. Nottingham Forest won the competition for their second time, as of 2025, beating Luton Town 2–1 in the final at Wembley. This was Luton Town's only appearance in an FA Cup final as of 2025.
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.
The competition saw the remarkable progress of Norwich City, then a Division Three team, to the semi-finals, defeating Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur along the way, before losing in a replay to Luton Town. The "59 Cup Run" takes a notable place in Norwich's club history.

## Calendar

| Round | Date |
| Preliminary round | Saturday 6 September 1958 |
| First qualifying round | Saturday 20 September 1958 |
| Second qualifying round | Saturday 4 October 1958 |
| Third qualifying round | Saturday 18 October 1958 |
| Fourth qualifying round | Saturday 1 November 1958 |
| First round proper | Saturday 15 November 1958 |
| Second round | Saturday 6 December 1958 |
| Third round | Saturday 10 January 1959 |
| Fourth round | Saturday 24 January 1959 |
| Fifth round | Saturday 14 February 1959 |
| Sixth round | Saturday 28 February 1959 |
| Semi finals | Saturday 14 March 1959 |
| Final | Saturday 2 May 1959 |

## 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 Bishop Auckland, Consett, South Shields, Blyth Spartans, Crook Town, Rhyl, Morecambe, Buxton, Worcester City, Boston United, Denaby United, Heanor Town, Kettering Town, Hereford United, Peterborough United, Wisbech Town, Chelmsford City, King's Lynn, Hitchin Town, Ashford Town (Kent), Margate, Guildford City, Wycombe Wanderers, Headington United, Tooting & Mitcham United, Newport (IOW), Bath City, Weymouth, Yeovil Town and Merthyr Tydfil.
Consett was the only qualifying club appearing in the competition proper for the first time. Of the others, Ashford Town had not featured at this stage since 1934–35, Denaby United since 1932-33 and Heanor Town since 1898-99. Tooting & Mitcham featured in seven rounds of the tournament, defeating Bromley, Redhill, Sutton United, Horsham, Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic and Northampton Town before losing to eventual champions Nottingham Forest in a third round replay, but the achievements of the non-league clubs were all ultimately overshadowed by the heroics of Norwich City.

## First round proper

At this stage the 48 clubs from the newly instituted Third and Fourth divisions joined the 30 non-league clubs who came through the qualifying rounds. To complete this round, non-league sides Woking and Ilford were given byes as the champions and runners-up from the previous season's FA Amateur Cup.
Matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 15 November 1958, although the Bury–York City match was postponed. Ten were drawn and went to replays, with one of those going to a second replay.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Ashford Town (Kent) | 0–1 | Crystal Palace | 15 November 1958 |
| 2 | Chester | 3–2 | Boston United | 15 November 1958 |
| 3 | Chesterfield | 3–0 | Rhyl | 15 November 1958 |
| 4 | Bury | 1–0 | York City | 18 November 1958 |
| 5 | Southampton | 4–1 | Woking | 15 November 1958 |
| 6 | Watford | 1–1 | Reading | 15 November 1958 |
| Replay | Reading | 0–2 | Watford | 19 November 1958 |
| 7 | Weymouth | 2–5 | Coventry City | 15 November 1958 |
| 8 | Walsall | 0–1 | Queens Park Rangers | 15 November 1958 |
| 9 | Wisbech Town | 2–2 | Newport County | 15 November 1958 |
| Replay | Newport County | 4–1 | Wisbech Town | 17 November 1958 |
| 10 | Notts County | 1–2 | Barrow | 15 November 1958 |
| 11 | Crewe Alexandra | 2–2 | South Shields | 15 November 1958 |
| Replay | South Shields | 5–0 | Crewe Alexandra | 19 November 1958 |
| 12 | Swindon Town | 5–0 | Aldershot | 15 November 1958 |
| 13 | Doncaster Rovers | 5–0 | Consett | 15 November 1958 |
| 14 | Wrexham | 1–2 | Darlington | 15 November 1958 |
| 15 | Heanor Town | 1–5 | Carlisle United | 15 November 1958 |
| 16 | Buxton | 4–1 | Crook Town | 15 November 1958 |
| 17 | Tranmere Rovers | 8–1 | Bishop Auckland | 15 November 1958 |
| 18 | Accrington Stanley | 5–1 | Workington | 15 November 1958 |
| 19 | Brentford | 3–2 | Exeter City | 15 November 1958 |
| 20 | Northampton Town | 2–0 | Wycombe Wanderers | 15 November 1958 |
| 21 | Denaby United | 0–2 | Oldham Athletic | 15 November 1958 |
| 22 | King's Lynn | 2–1 | Merthyr Tydfil | 15 November 1958 |
| 23 | Norwich City | 3–1 | Ilford | 15 November 1958 |
| 24 | Plymouth Argyle | 2–2 | Gillingham | 15 November 1958 |
| Replay | Gillingham | 1–4 | Plymouth Argyle | 19 November 1958 |
| 25 | Hull City | 0–1 | Stockport County | 15 November 1958 |
| 26 | Hitchin Town | 1–1 | Millwall | 15 November 1958 |
| Replay | Millwall | 2–1 | Hitchin Town | 17 November 1958 |
| 27 | Southend United | 0–0 | Yeovil Town | 15 November 1958 |
| Replay | Yeovil Town | 1–0 | Southend United | 21 November 1958 |
| 28 | Hartlepools United | 1–1 | Rochdale | 15 November 1958 |
| Replay | Rochdale | 3–3 | Hartlepools United | 19 November 1958 |
| Replay | Hartlepools United | 2–1 | Rochdale | 27 November 1958 |
| 29 | Mansfield Town | 3–4 | Bradford City | 15 November 1958 |
| 30 | Southport | 0–2 | Halifax Town | 15 November 1958 |
| 31 | Morecambe | 1–2 | Blyth Spartans | 15 November 1958 |
| 32 | Torquay United | 1–0 | Port Vale | 15 November 1958 |
| 33 | Guildford City | 1–2 | Hereford United | 15 November 1958 |
| 34 | Newport (IOW) | 0–0 | Shrewsbury Town | 15 November 1958 |
| Replay | Shrewsbury Town | 5–0 | Newport (IOW) | 20 November 1958 |
| 35 | Gateshead | 1–4 | Bradford Park Avenue | 15 November 1958 |
| 36 | Headington United | 3–2 | Margate | 15 November 1958 |
| 37 | Tooting & Mitcham United | 3–1 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 15 November 1958 |
| 38 | Peterborough United | 2–2 | Kettering Town | 15 November 1958 |
| Replay | Kettering Town | 2–3 | Peterborough United | 20 November 1958 |
| 39 | Colchester United | 2–0 | Bath City | 15 November 1958 |
| 40 | Chelmsford City | 0–0 | Worcester City | 15 November 1958 |
| Replay | Worcester City | 3–1 | Chelmsford City | 21 November 1958 |

## Second round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 6 December 1958. Six matches were drawn, with replays taking place later the same week. One match went to a second replay.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Chester | 1–1 | Bury | 6 December 1958 |
| Replay | Bury | 2–1 | Chester | 9 December 1958 |
| 2 | Barrow | 2–0 | Hartlepools United | 6 December 1958 |
| 3 | Swindon Town | 1–1 | Norwich City | 6 December 1958 |
| Replay | Norwich City | 1–0 | Swindon Town | 11 December 1958 |
| 4 | Tranmere Rovers | 1–2 | Doncaster Rovers | 6 December 1958 |
| 5 | Queens Park Rangers | 0–1 | Southampton | 6 December 1958 |
| 6 | Accrington Stanley | 6–1 | Buxton | 6 December 1958 |
| 7 | Brentford | 3–1 | King's Lynn | 6 December 1958 |
| 8 | Coventry City | 1–3 | Plymouth Argyle | 6 December 1958 |
| 9 | Carlisle United | 0–0 | Chesterfield | 6 December 1958 |
| Replay | Chesterfield | 1–0 | Carlisle United | 10 December 1958 |
| 10 | Oldham Athletic | 2–0 | South Shields | 6 December 1958 |
| 11 | Crystal Palace | 2–2 | Shrewsbury Town | 6 December 1958 |
| Replay | Shrewsbury Town | 2–2 | Crystal Palace | 11 December 1958 |
| Replay | Crystal Palace | 4–1 | Shrewsbury Town | 15 December 1958 |
| 12 | Worcester City | 5–2 | Millwall | 6 December 1958 |
| 13 | Bradford Park Avenue | 0–2 | Bradford City | 6 December 1958 |
| 14 | Blyth Spartans | 3–4 | Stockport County | 6 December 1958 |
| 15 | Halifax Town | 1–1 | Darlington | 6 December 1958 |
| Replay | Darlington | 3–0 | Halifax Town | 10 December 1958 |
| 16 | Torquay United | 2–0 | Watford | 6 December 1958 |
| 17 | Hereford United | 0–2 | Newport County | 6 December 1958 |
| 18 | Tooting & Mitcham United | 2–1 | Northampton Town | 6 December 1958 |
| 19 | Peterborough United | 4–2 | Headington United | 6 December 1958 |
| 20 | Colchester United | 1–1 | Yeovil Town | 6 December 1958 |
| Replay | Yeovil Town | 1–7 | Colchester United | 11 December 1958 |

## Third round proper

The 44 First and Second Division clubs entered the competition at this stage. The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 10 January 1959, although six matches were postponed until later dates. Six matches were drawn and went to replays.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Barrow | 2–4 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 10 January 1959 |
| 2 | Bury | 0–1 | Arsenal | 10 January 1959 |
| 3 | Southampton | 1–2 | Blackpool | 10 January 1959 |
| 4 | Leicester City | 1–1 | Lincoln City | 10 January 1959 |
| Replay | Lincoln City | 0–2 | Leicester City | 14 January 1959 |
| 5 | Blackburn Rovers | 4–2 | Leyton Orient | 10 January 1959 |
| 6 | Aston Villa | 2–1 | Rotherham United | 10 January 1959 |
| 7 | Sheffield Wednesday | 0–2 | West Bromwich Albion | 19 January 1959 |
| 8 | Grimsby Town | 2–2 | Manchester City | 10 January 1959 |
| Replay | Manchester City | 1–2 | Grimsby Town | 24 January 1959 |
| 9 | Middlesbrough | 0–1 | Birmingham City | 24 January 1959 |
| 10 | Derby County | 2–2 | Preston North End | 10 January 1959 |
| Replay | Preston North End | 4–2 | Derby County | 19 January 1959 |
| 11 | Luton Town | 5–1 | Leeds United | 10 January 1959 |
| 12 | Everton | 4–0 | Sunderland | 10 January 1959 |
| 13 | Doncaster Rovers | 0–2 | Bristol City | 19 January 1959 |
| 14 | Sheffield United | 2–0 | Crystal Palace | 10 January 1959 |
| 15 | Ipswich Town | 1–0 | Huddersfield Town | 10 January 1959 |
| 16 | Stockport County | 1–3 | Burnley | 14 January 1959 |
| 17 | Newcastle United | 1–4 | Chelsea | 19 January 1959 |
| 18 | Tottenham Hotspur | 2–0 | West Ham United | 10 January 1959 |
| 19 | Fulham | 0–0 | Peterborough United | 10 January 1959 |
| Replay | Peterborough United | 0–1 | Fulham | 24 January 1959 |
| 20 | Accrington Stanley | 3–0 | Darlington | 10 January 1959 |
| 21 | Brentford | 2–0 | Barnsley | 10 January 1959 |
| 22 | Bristol Rovers | 0–4 | Charlton Athletic | 10 January 1959 |
| 23 | Portsmouth | 3–1 | Swansea Town | 10 January 1959 |
| 24 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0–2 | Bradford City | 10 January 1959 |
| 25 | Norwich City | 3–0 | Manchester United | 10 January 1959 |
| 26 | Plymouth Argyle | 0–3 | Cardiff City | 10 January 1959 |
| 27 | Worcester City | 2–1 | Liverpool | 15 January 1959 |
| 28 | Scunthorpe United | 0–2 | Bolton Wanderers | 10 January 1959 |
| 29 | Newport County | 0–0 | Torquay United | 10 January 1959 |
| Replay | Torquay United | 0–1 | Newport County | 14 January 1959 |
| 30 | Stoke City | 5–1 | Oldham Athletic | 10 January 1959 |
| 31 | Tooting & Mitcham United | 2–2 | Nottingham Forest | 10 January 1959 |
| Replay | Nottingham Forest | 3–0 | Tooting & Mitcham United | 24 January 1959 |
| 32 | Colchester United | 2–0 | Chesterfield | 10 January 1959 |

## Fourth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 24 January 1959, with three matches taking place on later dates. Six matches were drawn and went to replays, which were all played in the following midweek match. Worcester City was the last non-league club left in the competition.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Bristol City | 1–1 | Blackpool | 24 January 1959 |
| Replay | Blackpool | 1–0 | Bristol City | 28 January 1959 |
| 2 | Preston North End | 3–2 | Bradford City | 24 January 1959 |
| 3 | Leicester City | 1–1 | Luton Town | 24 January 1959 |
| Replay | Luton Town | 4–1 | Leicester City | 28 January 1959 |
| 4 | Nottingham Forest | 4–1 | Grimsby Town | 28 January 1959 |
| 5 | Blackburn Rovers | 1–2 | Burnley | 28 January 1959 |
| 6 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–2 | Bolton Wanderers | 24 January 1959 |
| 7 | West Bromwich Albion | 2–0 | Brentford | 24 January 1959 |
| 8 | Tottenham Hotspur | 4–1 | Newport County | 24 January 1959 |
| 9 | Accrington Stanley | 0–0 | Portsmouth | 24 January 1959 |
| Replay | Portsmouth | 4–1 | Accrington Stanley | 28 January 1959 |
| 10 | Norwich City | 3–2 | Cardiff City | 24 January 1959 |
| 11 | Chelsea | 1–2 | Aston Villa | 24 January 1959 |
| 12 | Worcester City | 0–2 | Sheffield United | 24 January 1959 |
| 13 | Charlton Athletic | 2–2 | Everton | 24 January 1959 |
| Replay | Everton | 4–1 | Charlton Athletic | 28 January 1959 |
| 14 | Stoke City | 0–1 | Ipswich Town | 24 January 1959 |
| 15 | Colchester United | 2–2 | Arsenal | 24 January 1959 |
| Replay | Arsenal | 4–0 | Colchester United | 28 January 1959 |
| 16 | Birmingham City | 1–1 | Fulham | 28 January 1959 |
| Replay | Fulham | 2–3 | Birmingham City | 4 February 1959 |

## Fifth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 14 February 1959. Four matches went to replays in the following midweek fixture, with two of these requiring a second replay to settle the tie.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Blackpool | 3–1 | West Bromwich Albion | 14 February 1959 |
| 2 | Burnley | 1–0 | Portsmouth | 14 February 1959 |
| 3 | Bolton Wanderers | 2–2 | Preston North End | 14 February 1959 |
| Replay | Preston North End | 1–1 | Bolton Wanderers | 18 February 1959 |
| Replay | Bolton Wanderers | 1–0 | Preston North End | 23 February 1959 |
| 4 | Everton | 1–4 | Aston Villa | 14 February 1959 |
| 5 | Ipswich Town | 2–5 | Luton Town | 14 February 1959 |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1–1 | Norwich City | 14 February 1959 |
| Replay | Norwich City | 1–0 | Tottenham Hotspur | 18 February 1959 |
| 7 | Arsenal | 2–2 | Sheffield United | 14 February 1959 |
| Replay | Sheffield United | 3–0 | Arsenal | 18 February 1959 |
| 8 | Birmingham City | 1–1 | Nottingham Forest | 14 February 1959 |
| Replay | Nottingham Forest | 1–1 | Birmingham City | 18 February 1959 |
| Replay | Birmingham City | 0–5 | Nottingham Forest | 23 February 1959 |

## Sixth round proper

The four quarter-final ties were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 28 February 1959. Three of the four games went to replays.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Blackpool | 1–1 | Luton Town | 28 February 1959 |
| Replay | Luton Town | 1–0 | Blackpool | 4 March 1959 |
| 2 | Nottingham Forest | 2–1 | Bolton Wanderers | 28 February 1959 |
| 3 | Aston Villa | 0–0 | Burnley | 28 February 1959 |
| Replay | Burnley | 0–2 | Aston Villa | 3 March 1959 |
| 4 | Sheffield United | 1–1 | Norwich City | 28 February 1959 |
| Replay | Norwich City | 3–2 | Sheffield United | 4 March 1959 |

## Semi finals

The semi-final matches were played on Saturday, 14 March 1959. Nottingham Forest and Luton Town won their matches to meet in the final at Wembley.

### Replay
## Final

The FA Cup final took place on 2 May 1959, at Wembley Stadium and was won by Nottingham Forest, beating Luton Town 2–1.
| Nottingham Forest | Luton Town |