# 1972–73 FA Cup

The 1972–73 FA Cup was the 92nd season of the world's oldest football cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup. Second Division Sunderland won the competition for the second time, beating holders Leeds United 1–0 in the final at Wembley, London with a goal from Ian Porterfield.
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 |
| Preliminary round | Saturday 2 September 1972 |
| First round qualifying | Saturday 16 September 1972 |
| Second round qualifying | Saturday 7 October 1972 |
| Third round qualifying | Saturday 21 October 1972 |
| Fourth round qualifying | Saturday 4 November 1972 |
| First round proper | Saturday 18 November 1972 |
| Second round proper | Saturday 9 December 1972 |
| Third round proper | Saturday 13 January 1973 |
| Fourth round proper | Saturday 3 February 1973 |
| Fifth round proper | Saturday 24 February 1973 |
| Sixth round proper | Saturday 17 March 1973 |
| Semi-finals | Saturday 7 April 1973 |
| Final | Saturday 5 May 1973 |

## 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 South Shields, Spennymoor United, Scarborough, Altrincham, Lancaster City, Rhyl, Wigan Athletic, South Liverpool, Bangor City, Nuneaton Borough, Bilston, Telford United, Grantham, Boston United, Kettering Town, Chelmsford City, Bishop's Stortford, Hillingdon Borough, Margate, Bognor Regis Town, Guildford City, Hayes, Walton & Hersham, Tonbridge, Banbury United, Alton Town, Yeovil Town and Barnstaple Town.
Bognor Regis Town and Alton Town were appearing in the competition proper for the first time. Of the others, Hayes had last featured at this stage in 1964–65, Banbury United had last done so in 1961-62, Barnstaple Town had last done so in 1959-60 and Lancaster City had last done so in 1947-48.
In a season in which only three non-league clubs managed to progress past the second round, Walton & Hersham played ten matches across seven rounds of the tournament. They defeated Metropolitan Police (after a replay), Staines Town, Leytonstone (after another replay), Wycombe Wanderers, Dartford (after a replay) and Exeter City before going out to Margate at Stompond Lane.

## Results
### First round proper

At this stage the 48 clubs from the Football League Third and Fourth Divisions joined the non-league clubs who came through the qualifying rounds. To complete this round, four additional non-league clubs were given byes to this stage. Stafford Rangers and Barnet were the finalists from the previous season's FA Trophy, while Hendon and Enfield were the finalists from the previous season's FA Amateur Cup.
Matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 18 November 1972. Nine matches were drawn and went to replays, while Scunthorpe United and Hartlepool needed a second replay which was played at Roker Park.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Enfield | 1–1 | Bishop's Stortford | 18 November 1972 |
| Replay | Bishop's Stortford | 1–0 | Enfield | 21 November 1972 |
| 2 | Chesterfield | 4–2 | Rhyl | 18 November 1972 |
| 3 | Darlington | 1–1 | Wrexham | 18 November 1972 |
| Replay | Wrexham | 5–0 | Darlington | 22 November 1972 |
| 4 | Hartlepool | 0–0 | Scunthorpe United | 18 November 1972 |
| Replay | Scunthorpe United | 0–0 | Hartlepool | 21 November 1972 |
| Replay | Hartlepool | 1–2 | Scunthorpe United | 27 November 1972 |
| 5 | AFC Bournemouth | 5–1 | Cambridge United | 18 November 1972 |
| 6 | Banbury United | 0–2 | Barnet | 18 November 1972 |
| 7 | Rochdale | 1–2 | Bangor City | 18 November 1972 |
| 8 | Tonbridge | 0–5 | Charlton Athletic | 18 November 1972 |
| 9 | Watford | 4–2 | Guildford City | 18 November 1972 |
| 10 | Yeovil Town | 2–1 | Brentford | 18 November 1972 |
| 11 | Walsall | 3–3 | Kettering Town | 18 November 1972 |
| Replay | Kettering Town | 1–2 | Walsall | 22 November 1972 |
| 12 | Gillingham | 1–2 | Reading | 18 November 1972 |
| 13 | Bolton Wanderers | 1–1 | Chester | 18 November 1972 |
| Replay | Chester | 0–1 | Bolton Wanderers | 22 November 1972 |
| 14 | Grimsby Town | 2–1 | Wigan Athletic | 18 November 1972 |
| 15 | Crewe Alexandra | 1–0 | Stafford Rangers | 18 November 1972 |
| 16 | Lincoln City | 2–2 | Blackburn Rovers | 18 November 1972 |
| Replay | Blackburn Rovers | 4–1 | Lincoln City | 27 November 1972 |
| 17 | Doncaster Rovers | 3–1 | Bury | 18 November 1972 |
| 18 | Stockport County | 1–0 | Workington | 18 November 1972 |
| 19 | Barnsley | 1–1 | Halifax Town | 18 November 1972 |
| Replay | Halifax Town | 2–1 | Barnsley | 21 November 1972 |
| 20 | South Liverpool | 0–2 | Tranmere Rovers | 18 November 1972 |
| 21 | Plymouth Argyle | 1–0 | Hendon | 18 November 1972 |
| 22 | Bradford City | 3–0 | Grantham | 18 November 1972 |
| 23 | Oldham Athletic | 1–1 | Scarborough | 18 November 1972 |
| Replay | Scarborough | 2–1 | Oldham Athletic | 22 November 1972 |
| 24 | Spennymoor United | 1–1 | Shrewsbury Town | 18 November 1972 |
| Replay | Shrewsbury Town | 3–1 | Spennymoor United | 21 November 1972 |
| 25 | Altrincham | 0–1 | Notts County | 18 November 1972 |
| 26 | Southend United | 0–2 | Aldershot | 18 November 1972 |
| 27 | Port Vale | 2–1 | Southport | 18 November 1972 |
| 28 | Newport County | 5–1 | Alton Town | 18 November 1972 |
| 29 | Margate | 1–0 | Swansea City | 18 November 1972 |
| 30 | Torquay United | 3–0 | Hereford United | 18 November 1972 |
| 31 | York City | 2–1 | Mansfield Town | 18 November 1972 |
| 32 | Rotherham United | 4–0 | South Shields | 18 November 1972 |
| 33 | Hayes | 1–0 | Bristol Rovers | 18 November 1972 |
| 34 | Boston United | 1–2 | Lancaster City | 18 November 1972 |
| 35 | Peterborough United | 1–0 | Northampton Town | 18 November 1972 |
| 36 | Colchester United | 6–0 | Bognor Regis Town | 18 November 1972 |
| 37 | Chelmsford City | 2–0 | Hillingdon Borough | 18 November 1972 |
| 38 | Walton & Hersham | 2–1 | Exeter City | 18 November 1972 |
| 39 | Barnstaple Town | 0–2 | Bilston | 18 November 1972 |
| 40 | Telford United | 3–2 | Nuneaton Borough | 18 November 1972 |

### Second round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 9 December 1972, with the exception of the Walsall–Charlton Athletic game which was played three days later. Five matches were drawn, with replays taking place later the same week.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | AFC Bournemouth | 0–0 | Colchester United | 9 December 1972 |
| Replay | Colchester United | 0–2 | AFC Bournemouth | 11 December 1972 |
| 2 | Barnet | 1–1 | Bilston | 9 December 1972 |
| Replay | Bilston | 0–1 | Barnet | 12 December 1972 |
| 3 | Watford | 2–0 | Aldershot | 9 December 1972 |
| 4 | Yeovil Town | 0–2 | Plymouth Argyle | 9 December 1972 |
| 5 | Reading | 0–0 | Hayes | 9 December 1972 |
| Replay | Hayes | 0–1 | Reading | 12 December 1972 |
| 6 | Walsall | 1–2 | Charlton Athletic | 12 December 1972 |
| 7 | Notts County | 2–1 | Lancaster City | 9 December 1972 |
| 8 | Blackburn Rovers | 0–1 | Crewe Alexandra | 9 December 1972 |
| 9 | Bolton Wanderers | 3–0 | Shrewsbury Town | 9 December 1972 |
| 10 | Grimsby Town | 2–2 | Chesterfield | 9 December 1972 |
| Replay | Chesterfield | 0–1 | Grimsby Town | 13 December 1972 |
| 11 | Scarborough | 1–2 | Doncaster Rovers | 9 December 1972 |
| 12 | Bangor City | 2–3 | York City | 9 December 1972 |
| 13 | Bradford City | 2–1 | Tranmere Rovers | 9 December 1972 |
| 14 | Scunthorpe United | 3–2 | Halifax Town | 9 December 1972 |
| 15 | Port Vale | 1–0 | Wrexham | 9 December 1972 |
| 16 | Torquay United | 0–1 | Newport County | 9 December 1972 |
| 17 | Bishop's Stortford | 2–2 | Peterborough United | 9 December 1972 |
| Replay | Peterborough United | 3–1 | Bishop's Stortford | 11 December 1972 |
| 18 | Rotherham United | 0–1 | Stockport County | 9 December 1972 |
| 19 | Chelmsford City | 5–0 | Telford United | 9 December 1972 |
| 20 | Walton & Hersham | 0–1 | Margate | 9 December 1972 |

### Third round proper

The 44 First and Second Division clubs entered the competition at this stage. The matches were scheduled Saturday, 13 January 1973, with the exception of the Reading–Doncaster Rovers game, which was played on the following Wednesday. Eleven matches were drawn, of which two required a second replay.
The first attempted replay between Nottingham Forest and West Bromwich Albion was abandoned in the 81st minute with the score at 1–1 due to fog at the City Ground. It was successfully re-staged six days later but was drawn 0–0, necessitating a second replay at Filbert Street.
Barnet, Chelmsford City and Margate were the last non-league sides left in the competition.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Burnley | 0–0 | Liverpool | 13 January 1973 |
| Replay | Liverpool | 3–0 | Burnley | 16 January 1973 |
| 2 | Watford | 0–1 | Sheffield United | 13 January 1973 |
| 3 | Reading | 2–0 | Doncaster Rovers | 17 January 1973 |
| 4 | Notts County | 1–1 | Sunderland | 13 January 1973 |
| Replay | Sunderland | 2–0 | Notts County | 16 January 1973 |
| 5 | Sheffield Wednesday | 2–0 | Fulham | 13 January 1973 |
| 6 | Grimsby Town | 0–0 | Preston North End | 13 January 1973 |
| Replay | Preston North End | 0–1 | Grimsby Town | 15 January 1973 |
| 7 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–0 | Manchester United | 13 January 1973 |
| 8 | West Bromwich Albion | 1–1 | Nottingham Forest | 13 January 1973 |
| Replay | Nottingham Forest | 1a1 | West Bromwich Albion | 16 January 1973 |
| Replay | Nottingham Forest | 0–0 | West Bromwich Albion | 22 January 1973 |
| 2nd replay | West Bromwich Albion | 3–1 | Nottingham Forest | 29 January 1973 |
| 9 | Luton Town | 2–0 | Crewe Alexandra | 13 January 1973 |
| 10 | Everton | 3–2 | Aston Villa | 13 January 1973 |
| 11 | Swindon Town | 2–0 | Birmingham City | 13 January 1973 |
| 12 | Stockport County | 0–0 | Hull City | 13 January 1973 |
| Replay | Hull City | 2–0 | Stockport County | 23 January 1973 |
| 13 | Newcastle United | 2–0 | AFC Bournemouth | 13 January 1973 |
| 14 | Manchester City | 3–2 | Stoke City | 13 January 1973 |
| 15 | Queens Park Rangers | 0–0 | Barnet | 13 January 1973 |
| Replay | Barnet | 0–3 | Queens Park Rangers | 16 January 1973 |
| 16 | Portsmouth | 1–1 | Bristol City | 13 January 1973 |
| Replay | Bristol City | 4–1 | Portsmouth | 16 January 1973 |
| 17 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0–2 | Chelsea | 13 January 1973 |
| 18 | Norwich City | 1–1 | Leeds United | 13 January 1973 |
| Replay | Leeds United | 1–1 | Norwich City | 17 January 1973 |
| Replay | Norwich City | 0–5 | Leeds United | 29 January 1973 |
| 19 | Plymouth Argyle | 1–0 | Middlesbrough | 13 January 1973 |
| 20 | Bradford City | 2–1 | Blackpool | 13 January 1973 |
| 21 | Millwall | 3–0 | Newport County | 13 January 1973 |
| 22 | Carlisle United | 2–2 | Huddersfield Town | 13 January 1973 |
| Replay | Huddersfield Town | 0–1 | Carlisle United | 16 January 1973 |
| 23 | Crystal Palace | 2–0 | Southampton | 13 January 1973 |
| 24 | Scunthorpe United | 2–3 | Cardiff City | 13 January 1973 |
| 25 | Port Vale | 0–1 | West Ham United | 13 January 1973 |
| 26 | Margate | 0–6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 13 January 1973 |
| 27 | Charlton Athletic | 1–1 | Bolton Wanderers | 13 January 1973 |
| Replay | Bolton Wanderers | 4–0 | Charlton Athletic | 17 January 1973 |
| 28 | Arsenal | 2–2 | Leicester City | 13 January 1973 |
| Replay | Leicester City | 1–2 | Arsenal | 17 January 1973 |
| 29 | York City | 0–1 | Oxford United | 13 January 1973 |
| 30 | Peterborough United | 0–1 | Derby County | 13 January 1973 |
| 31 | Chelmsford City | 1–3 | Ipswich Town | 13 January 1973 |
| 32 | Orient | 1–4 | Coventry City | 13 January 1973 |

### Fourth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 3 February 1973. Five matches were drawn, of which two required a second replay.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Liverpool | 0–0 | Manchester City | 3 February 1973 |
| Replay | Manchester City | 2–0 | Liverpool | 7 February 1973 |
| 2 | Sheffield Wednesday | 1–1 | Crystal Palace | 3 February 1973 |
| Replay | Crystal Palace | 1–1 | Sheffield Wednesday | 6 February 1973 |
| Replay | Sheffield Wednesday | 3–2 | Crystal Palace | 19 February 1973 |
| 3 | Bolton Wanderers | 2–2 | Cardiff City | 3 February 1973 |
| Replay | Cardiff City | 1–1 | Bolton Wanderers | 7 February 1973 |
| Replay | Bolton Wanderers | 1–0 | Cardiff City | 12 February 1973 |
| 4 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–0 | Bristol City | 3 February 1973 |
| 5 | West Bromwich Albion | 2–0 | Swindon Town | 3 February 1973 |
| 6 | Sunderland | 1–1 | Reading | 3 February 1973 |
| Replay | Reading | 1–3 | Sunderland | 7 February 1973 |
| 7 | Derby County | 1–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 February 1973 |
| Replay | Tottenham Hotspur | 3–5 | Derby County | 7 February 1973 |
| 8 | Everton | 0–2 | Millwall | 3 February 1973 |
| 9 | Newcastle United | 0–2 | Luton Town | 3 February 1973 |
| 10 | Coventry City | 1–0 | Grimsby Town | 3 February 1973 |
| 11 | Hull City | 1–0 | West Ham United | 3 February 1973 |
| 12 | Carlisle United | 2–1 | Sheffield United | 3 February 1973 |
| 13 | Chelsea | 2–0 | Ipswich Town | 3 February 1973 |
| 14 | Arsenal | 2–0 | Bradford City | 3 February 1973 |
| 15 | Leeds United | 2–1 | Plymouth Argyle | 3 February 1973 |
| 16 | Oxford United | 0–2 | Queens Park Rangers | 3 February 1973 |

### Fifth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 24 February 1973 with one replay played three days later.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Sheffield Wednesday | 1–2 | Chelsea | 24 February 1973 |
| 2 | Bolton Wanderers | 0–1 | Luton Town | 24 February 1973 |
| 3 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–0 | Millwall | 24 February 1973 |
| 4 | Derby County | 4–2 | Queens Park Rangers | 24 February 1973 |
| 5 | Manchester City | 2–2 | Sunderland | 24 February 1973 |
| Replay | Sunderland | 3–1 | Manchester City | 27 February 1973 |
| 6 | Coventry City | 3–0 | Hull City | 24 February 1973 |
| 7 | Carlisle United | 1–2 | Arsenal | 24 February 1973 |
| 8 | Leeds United | 2–0 | West Bromwich Albion | 24 February 1973 |

### Sixth round proper

The four quarter-final ties were played on the 17 March 1973. There was one replay three days later.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–0 | Coventry City | 17 March 1973 |
| 2 | Sunderland | 2–0 | Luton Town | 17 March 1973 |
| 3 | Derby County | 0–1 | Leeds United | 17 March 1973 |
| 4 | Chelsea | 2–2 | Arsenal | 17 March 1973 |
| Replay | Arsenal | 2–1 | Chelsea | 20 March 1973 |

### Semi-finals

The semi-final matches were played on Saturday, 7 April 1973 with no replays being needed. Sunderland and Leeds United won their respective matches to go on to the final at Wembley.

### Third place playoff

Between 1970 and 1974, a third place playoff between the two losing semi-finalists was held.

### Final

The final took place on Saturday, 5 May 1973 at Wembley and ended in a victory for Sunderland over Leeds United by one goal to nil. The attendance was 100,000.
| Leeds United | Sunderland |