# 1974–75 FA Cup

The 1974–75 FA Cup was the 94th season of the world's oldest football cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup. West Ham United won the competition, beating Second Division side Fulham 2–0 in the final at Wembley, London.
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 | Saturday, 31 August 1974 |
| First qualifying round | Saturday, 14 September 1974 |
| Second qualifying round | Saturday, 5 October 1974 |
| Third qualifying round | Saturday, 19 October 1974 |
| Fourth qualifying round | Saturday, 2 November 1974 |
| First round proper | Saturday, 23 November 1974 |
| Second round proper | Saturday, 14 December 1974 |
| Third round proper | Saturday, 4 January 1975 |
| Fourth round proper | Saturday, 25 January 1975 |
| Fifth round proper | Saturday, 15 February 1975 |
| Sixth round proper | Saturday, 8 March 1975 |
| Semi-finals | Saturday, 5 April 1975 |
| Final | Saturday, 3 May 1975 |

## Qualifying rounds

Most participating clubs that were not members of the Football League competed in the qualifying rounds to secure one of 28 places available in the first round.
The winners from the fourth qualifying round were Blyth Spartans, Gateshead United, Bishop Auckland, Altrincham, Oswestry Town, Wigan Athletic, Marine, Farsley Celtic, Nuneaton Borough, Matlock Town, Stafford Rangers, Boston United, AP Leamington, Kettering Town, Ashford Town (Kent), Romford, Hitchin Town, Wycombe Wanderers, Chelmsford City, Slough Town, Tooting & Mitcham United, Wimbledon, Maidstone United, Leatherhead, Southwick, Weymouth, Cheltenham Town and Bath City.
Appearing in the competition proper for the first time were Farsley Celtic, AP Leamington, Maidstone United, Leatherhead and Southwick. Of the others, Bishop Auckland, Ashford Town (Kent) and Bath City had last featured at this stage in 1966–67, Tooting & Mitcham United had last done so in 1963-64, Oswestry Town and Matlcok Town had last done so in 1959-60, and Marine had last done so in 1947-48.
Gateshead United had relocated from South Shields during the summer of 1974 following the dissolution of Gateshead AFC. Although the club had qualified for the main draw of the Cup in each of the previous six seasons under its former name, this season marked the first time a club from Gateshead would be featuring in the first round since 1965-66.

## Results
### First round proper

At this stage the 48 clubs from the Football League Third and Fourth Division joined the non-league clubs who came through the qualifying rounds. To complete this round, non-league sides Morecambe, Dartford, Bishop's Stortford and Ilford were given byes as the finalists from the previous season's FA Trophy and FA Amateur Cup respectively. During the 1974 close season the Football Association decided to abolish the distinction between amateur and professional clubs, resulting in the permanent cessation of the FA Amateur Cup. The annual finalists from the replacement competition for lower-level clubs, known as the FA Vase, would not receive byes to the first round of the FA Cup in subsequent seasons.
Matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 23 November 1974. Twelve matches were drawn, of which one required a second replay.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date | Attendance |
| 1 | Ashford Town (Kent) | 1–3 | Walsall | 27 November 1974 | 2,700 |
| 2 | Chesterfield | 3–1 | Boston United | 23 November 1974 | 6,314 |
| 3 | Darlington | 1–0 | Workington | 23 November 1974 | |
| 4 | Dartford | 2–3 | Plymouth Argyle | 23 November 1974 | 4,384 |
| 5 | Hartlepool | 1–0 | Bradford City | 23 November 1974 | 3,677 |
| 6 | AFC Bournemouth | 5–0 | Southwick | 23 November 1974 | |
| 7 | Bury | 4–2 | Southport | 23 November 1974 | |
| 8 | Farsley Celtic | 0–2 | Tranmere Rovers | 23 November 1974 | |
| 9 | Rochdale | 0–0 | Marine | 23 November 1974 | |
| Replay | Marine | 1–2 | Rochdale | 27 November 1974 | 2,540 |
| 10 | Watford | 0–1 | Colchester United | 23 November 1974 | |
| 11 | Grimsby Town | 1–0 | Huddersfield Town | 23 November 1974 | |
| 12 | Crewe Alexandra | 2–2 | Gateshead United | 23 November 1974 | |
| Replay | Gateshead United | 1–0 | Crewe Alexandra | 25 November 1974 | 6,000 |
| 13 | Swindon Town | 4–0 | Reading | 23 November 1974 | 13,365 |
| 14 | Shrewsbury Town | 1–1 | Wigan Athletic | 23 November 1974 | |
| Replay | Wigan Athletic | 2–1 | Shrewsbury Town | 25 November 1974 | 11,860 |
| 15 | Bishop Auckland | 5–0 | Morecambe | 23 November 1974 | |
| 16 | Stockport County | 0–0 | Stafford Rangers | 23 November 1974 | |
| Replay | Stafford Rangers | 1–0 | Stockport County | 26 November 1974 | 5,630 |
| 17 | Wycombe Wanderers | 3–1 | Cheltenham Town | 23 November 1974 | |
| 18 | Barnsley | 1–2 | Halifax Town | 23 November 1974 | |
| 19 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 3–1 | Aldershot | 23 November 1974 | |
| 20 | Hitchin Town | 0–0 | Cambridge United | 23 November 1974 | |
| Replay | Cambridge United | 3–0 | Hitchin Town | 26 November 1974 | 2,827 |
| 21 | Wimbledon | 1–0 | Bath City | 23 November 1974 | |
| 22 | Exeter City | 1–2 | Newport County | 23 November 1974 | |
| 23 | Scunthorpe United | 1–1 | Altrincham | 23 November 1974 | |
| Replay | Altrincham | 3–1 | Scunthorpe United | 25 November 1974 | |
| 24 | Blyth Spartans | 1–1 | Preston North End | 23 November 1974 | 8,500 |
| Replay | Preston North End | 5–1 | Blyth Spartans | 26 November 1974 | 10,101 |
| 25 | Mansfield Town | 3–1 | Wrexham | 23 November 1974 | |
| 26 | Port Vale | 2–2 | Lincoln City | 23 November 1974 | |
| Replay | Lincoln City | 2–0 | Port Vale | 27 November 1974 | 6,824 |
| 27 | Matlock Town | 1–4 | Blackburn Rovers | 23 November 1974 | |
| 28 | Oswestry Town | 1–3 | Doncaster Rovers | 23 November 1974 | |
| 29 | Torquay United | 0–1 | Northampton Town | 23 November 1974 | |
| 30 | Hereford United | 1–0 | Gillingham | 26 November 1974 | 7,362 |
| 31 | Bishop's Stortford | 0–0 | Leatherhead | 23 November 1974 | |
| Replay | Leatherhead | 2–0 | Bishop's Stortford | 26 November 1974 | 1,775 |
| 32 | Rotherham United | 1–0 | Chester | 23 November 1974 | |
| 33 | Romford | 0–2 | Ilford | 23 November 1974 | |
| 34 | Tooting & Mitcham United | 1–2 | Crystal Palace | 27 November 1974 | 10,000 |
| 35 | Peterborough United | 0–0 | Weymouth | 23 November 1974 | 8,984 |
| Replay | Weymouth | 3–3 | Peterborough United | 4 December 1974 | 4,009 |
| 2nd replay | Peterborough United | 3–0 | Weymouth | 9 December 1974 | 9,077 |
| 36 | Chelmsford City | 0–1 | Charlton Athletic | 23 November 1974 | |
| 37 | Nuneaton Borough | 2–2 | Maidstone United | 23 November 1974 | |
| Replay | Maidstone United | 2–0 | Nuneaton Borough | 26 November 1974 | 4,101 |
| 38 | Slough Town | 1–4 | Brentford | 23 November 1974 | |
| 39 | Swansea City | 1–1 | Kettering Town | 26 November 1974 | 3,175 |
| Replay | Kettering Town | 3–1 | Swansea City | 2 December 1974 | 5,973 |
| 40 | AP Leamington | 1–2 | Southend United | 23 November 1974 | 3,000 |

### Second round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 14 December 1974. Five matches were drawn, with replays taking place later the same week.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date | Attendance |
| 1 | Chesterfield | 1–0 | Doncaster Rovers | 14 December 1974 | 5,267 |
| 2 | Hartlepool | 0–0 | Lincoln City | 14 December 1974 | 2,838 |
| Replay | Lincoln City | 1–0 | Hartlepool | 17 December 1974 | 4,985 |
| 3 | Rochdale | 1–1 | Tranmere Rovers | 14 December 1974 | |
| Replay | Tranmere Rovers | 1–0 | Rochdale | 16 December 1974 | 3,244 |
| 4 | Blackburn Rovers | 1–0 | Darlington | 14 December 1974 | |
| 5 | Grimsby Town | 1–1 | Bury | 14 December 1974 | |
| Replay | Bury | 2–1 | Grimsby Town | 17 December 1974 | |
| 6 | Stafford Rangers | 2–1 | Halifax Town | 14 December 1974 | |
| 7 | Swindon Town | 3–1 | Maidstone United | 14 December 1974 | 10,016 |
| 8 | Bishop Auckland | 0–2 | Preston North End | 14 December 1974 | |
| 9 | Ilford | 0–2 | Southend United | 14 December 1974 | 3,486 |
| 10 | Wycombe Wanderers | 0–0 | AFC Bournemouth | 14 December 1974 | |
| Replay | AFC Bournemouth | 1–2 | Wycombe Wanderers | 18 December 1974 | 5,407 |
| 11 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1–0 | Brentford | 14 December 1974 | |
| 12 | Plymouth Argyle | 2–1 | Crystal Palace | 14 December 1974 | 17,473 |
| 13 | Wimbledon | 2–0 | Kettering Town | 14 December 1974 | |
| 14 | Altrincham | 3–0 | Gateshead United | 14 December 1974 | |
| 15 | Newport County | 1–3 | Walsall | 14 December 1974 | |
| 16 | Rotherham United | 2–1 | Northampton Town | 14 December 1974 | |
| 17 | Wigan Athletic | 1–1 | Mansfield Town | 14 December 1974 | |
| Replay | Mansfield Town | 3–1 | Wigan Athletic | 16 December 1974 | 11,249 |
| 18 | Peterborough United | 3–0 | Charlton Athletic | 14 December 1974 | 9,642 |
| 19 | Leatherhead | 1–0 | Colchester United | 14 December 1974 | |
| 20 | Cambridge United | 2–0 | Hereford United | 14 December 1974 | |

### Third round proper

The 44 First and Second Division clubs entered the competition at this stage. The matches were scheduled Saturday, 4 January 1975. Eleven matches were drawn, of which two required second replays. Stafford Rangers became the first non-league club to defeat three Football League opponents in one tournament since Peterborough United in 1959–60.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date | Attendance |
| 1 | Burnley | 0–1 | Wimbledon | 4 January 1975 | 19,683 |
| 2 | Bury | 2–2 | Millwall | 4 January 1975 | |
| Replay | Millwall | 1–1 | Bury | 7 January 1975 | 10,274 |
| 2nd replay | Bury | 2–0 | Millwall | 13 January 1975 | 4,000 |
| 3 | Liverpool | 2–0 | Stoke City | 4 January 1975 | 48,723 |
| 4 | Preston North End | 0–1 | Carlisle United | 4 January 1975 | |
| 5 | Southampton | 1–2 | West Ham United | 4 January 1975 | 24,615 |
| 6 | Leicester City | 3–1 | Oxford United | 4 January 1975 | |
| 7 | Notts County | 3–1 | Portsmouth | 3 January 1975 | 14,723 |
| 8 | Nottingham Forest | 1–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 4 January 1975 | 23,355 |
| Replay | Tottenham Hotspur | 0–1 | Nottingham Forest | 8 January 1975 | 27,996 |
| 9 | Blackburn Rovers | 1–2 | Bristol Rovers | 4 January 1975 | |
| 10 | Bolton Wanderers | 0–0 | West Bromwich Albion | 4 January 1975 | |
| Replay | West Bromwich Albion | 4–0 | Bolton Wanderers | 8 January 1975 | 21,210 |
| 11 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–2 | Ipswich Town | 4 January 1975 | 28,542 |
| 12 | Sunderland | 2–0 | Chesterfield | 4 January 1975 | 34,268 |
| 13 | Stafford Rangers | 0–0 | Rotherham United | 4 January 1975 | 8,000 |
| Replay | Rotherham United | 0–2 | Stafford Rangers | 7 January 1975 | 11,262 |
| 14 | Luton Town | 0–1 | Birmingham City | 4 January 1975 | 17,543 |
| 15 | Everton | 1–1 | Altrincham | 4 January 1975 | 34,519 |
| Replay | Altrincham | 0–2 | Everton | 7 January 1975 | 35,530 |
| 16 | Swindon Town | 2–0 | Lincoln City | 4 January 1975 | 11,971 |
| 17 | Sheffield United | 2–0 | Bristol City | 4 January 1975 | |
| 18 | Wycombe Wanderers | 0–0 | Middlesbrough | 4 January 1975 | 12,000 |
| Replay | Middlesbrough | 1–0 | Wycombe Wanderers | 7 January 1975 | 30,128 |
| 19 | Manchester City | 0–2 | Newcastle United | 4 January 1975 | 37,625 |
| 20 | Fulham | 1–1 | Hull City | 4 January 1975 | 8,897 |
| Replay | Hull City | 2–2 | Fulham | 7 January 1975 | 11,850 |
| 2nd replay | Fulham | 1–0 | Hull City | 13 January 1975 | 4,929 |
| 21 | Coventry City | 2–0 | Norwich City | 4 January 1975 | |
| 22 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0–1 | Leatherhead | 4 January 1975 | |
| 23 | Manchester United | 0–0 | Walsall | 4 January 1975 | 43,353 |
| Replay | Walsall | 3–2 | Manchester United | 7 January 1975 | 18,105 |
| 24 | Plymouth Argyle | 2–0 | Blackpool | 4 January 1975 | 23,143 |
| 25 | Oldham Athletic | 0–3 | Aston Villa | 4 January 1975 | |
| 26 | Chelsea | 3–2 | Sheffield Wednesday | 4 January 1975 | 24,679 |
| 27 | Southend United | 2–2 | Queens Park Rangers | 4 January 1975 | 18,100 |
| Replay | Queens Park Rangers | 2–0 | Southend United | 7 January 1975 | 21,484 |
| 28 | Mansfield Town | 1–0 | Cambridge United | 4 January 1975 | |
| 29 | Arsenal | 1–1 | York City | 4 January 1975 | |
| Replay | York City | 1–3 | Arsenal | 7 January 1975 | 15,362 |
| 30 | Leeds United | 4–1 | Cardiff City | 4 January 1975 | 31,572 |
| 31 | Peterborough United | 1–0 | Tranmere Rovers | 4 January 1975 | 9,942 |
| 32 | Orient | 2–2 | Derby County | 4 January 1975 | 12,490 |
| Replay | Derby County | 2–1 | Orient | 8 January 1975 | 26,501 |

### Fourth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 25 January 1975. Four matches were drawn, of which one, the tie between Fulham and Nottingham Forest, required three replays. Holders Liverpool were eliminated by Ipswich Town. Wimbledon, Stafford Rangers and Leatherhead were the last non-league clubs left in the competition.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date | Attendance |
| 1 | Bury | 1–2 | Mansfield Town | 25 January 1975 | |
| 2 | Walsall | 1–0 | Newcastle United | 25 January 1975 | 19,998 |
| 3 | Leatherhead | 2–3 | Leicester City | 25 January 1975 | 32,000 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 4–1 | Sheffield United | 25 January 1975 | |
| 5 | Middlesbrough | 3–1 | Sunderland | 25 January 1975 | 39,400 |
| 6 | Derby County | 2–0 | Bristol Rovers | 27 January 1975 | 27,980 |
| 7 | Stafford Rangers | 1–2 | Peterborough United | 25 January 1975 | 31,160 |
| 8 | Ipswich Town | 1–0 | Liverpool | 25 January 1975 | 34,709 |
| 9 | Queens Park Rangers | 3–0 | Notts County | 24 January 1975 | 23,428 |
| 10 | Fulham | 0–0 | Nottingham Forest | 28 January 1975 | 14,846 |
| Replay | Nottingham Forest | 1–1 | Fulham | 3 February 1975 | 25,361 |
| 2nd replay | Fulham | 1–1 | Nottingham Forest | 5 February 1975 | 11,920 |
| 3rd replay | Nottingham Forest | 1–2 | Fulham | 10 February 1975 | 23,240 |
| 11 | Coventry City | 1–1 | Arsenal | 25 January 1975 | |
| Replay | Arsenal | 3–0 | Coventry City | 29 January 1975 | 30,867 |
| 12 | West Ham United | 1–1 | Swindon Town | 25 January 1975 | 35,679 |
| Replay | Swindon Town | 1–2 | West Ham United | 28 January 1975 | 27,749 |
| 13 | Plymouth Argyle | 1–3 | Everton | 25 January 1975 | 38,000 |
| 14 | Carlisle United | 3–2 | West Bromwich Albion | 25 January 1975 | |
| 15 | Chelsea | 0–1 | Birmingham City | 25 January 1975 | 36,650 |
| 16 | Leeds United | 0–0 | Wimbledon | 25 January 1975 | 46,230 |
| Replay | Wimbledon | 0–1 | Leeds United | 10 February 1975 | 45,071 |

### Fifth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 15 February 1975. Two matches were drawn, of which one required a second replay.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date | Attendance |
| 1 | Derby County | 0–1 | Leeds United | 18 February 1975 | 35,298 |
| 2 | Everton | 1–2 | Fulham | 15 February 1975 | 45,233 |
| 3 | Ipswich Town | 3–2 | Aston Villa | 15 February 1975 | 31,297 |
| 4 | West Ham United | 2–1 | Queens Park Rangers | 15 February 1975 | 39,193 |
| 5 | Mansfield Town | 0–1 | Carlisle United | 15 February 1975 | |
| 6 | Arsenal | 0–0 | Leicester City | 15 February 1975 | |
| Replay | Leicester City | 1–1 | Arsenal | 19 February 1975 | 35,000 |
| 2nd replay | Leicester City | 0–1 | Arsenal | 24 February 1975 | 39,025 |
| 7 | Peterborough United | 1–1 | Middlesbrough | 15 February 1975 | 25,750 |
| Replay | Middlesbrough | 2–0 | Peterborough United | 18 February 1975 | 34,303 |
| 8 | Birmingham City | 2–1 | Walsall | 15 February 1975 | 45,881 |

### Final

The final took place on Saturday, 3 May 1975 at Wembley and ended in a victory for West Ham United over Fulham by 2–0. Both goals were scored by Alan Taylor. The attendance was 100,000.
| West Ham | Fulham |

## TV coverage

The right to show FA Cup games were, as with Football League matches, shared between the BBC and ITV network. All games were shown in a highlights format, except the Final, which was shown live both on BBC1 & ITV. The BBC football highlights programme Match Of The Day would show up to three games and the various ITV regional network stations would cover up to one game and show highlights from other games covered elsewhere on the ITV network. No games from rounds 1 or 2 were shown. Highlights of replays would be shown on either the BBC or ITV. Third round BBC Orient v Derby County, Liverpool v Stoke City, Southampton v West Ham United ITV Wycombe Wanderers v Middlesbrough (LWT), Manchester City v Newcastle United (Granada & Tyne-Tees), Wolverhampton Wanderers v Ipswich Town (ATV), Southend United v Queens Park Rangers (Anglia), Leeds United v Cardiff City (Yorkshire & HTV), Brighton & Hove Albion v Leatherhead (Southern), Derby County v Orient (Midweek replay All Regions). Fourth round BBC Leatherhead v Leicester City, Plymouth Argyle v Everton, Middlesbrough v Sunderland, Arsenal v Coventry (Midweek replay), Wimbledon v Leeds United (Monday night replay) ITV Ipswich Town v Liverpool (Anglia & Granada), West Ham United v Swindon Town (LWT & HTV), Coventry City v Arsenal (ATV), Leeds United v Wimbledon (Yorkshire). Fifth round BBC Peterborough United v Middlesbrough, Arsenal v Leicester City, Mansfield Town v Carlisle United ITV West Ham United v Queens Park Rangers (LWT), Everton v Fulham (Granada),Ipswich Town v Aston Villa (Anglia), Birmingham City v Walsall (ATV), Derby County v Leeds United (Midweek All regions), Leicester City v Arsenal (Midweek 2nd replay All regions), Sixth round BBC Arsenal v West Ham United, Birmingham City v Middlesbrough ITV Carlisle United v Fulham (Granada, LWT & Tyne-Tees), Ipswich Town v Leeds United (Anglia & Yorkshire), Leeds United v Ipswich Town (Midweek 2nd replay All regions) Semi-Finals BBC Ipswich Town v West Ham United ITV Birmingham City v Fulham (All regions). Note neither BBC or ITV covered the replays, the goals were only shown as clips for TV news reports, with commentary over dubbed later. Final Fulham v West Ham United Shown live on both BBC & ITV