# 1950–51 FA Cup

The 1950–51 FA Cup was the 70th season of the world's oldest football cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup. Newcastle United won the competition for the fourth time, beating Blackpool 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 at neutral venues 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 2 September 1950 |
| Preliminary round | Saturday 16 September 1950 |
| First round qualifying | Saturday 30 September 1950 |
| Second round qualifying | Saturday 14 October 1950 |
| Third round qualifying | Saturday 28 October 1950 |
| Fourth round qualifying | Saturday 11 November 1950 |
| First round proper | Saturday 25 November 1950 |
| Second round proper | Saturday 9 December 1950 |
| Third round proper | Saturday 6 January 1951 |
| Fourth round proper | Saturday 27 January 1951 |
| Fifth round proper | Saturday 10 February 1951 |
| Sixth round proper | Saturday 24 February 1951 |
| Semi-finals | Saturday 10 March 1951 |
| Final | Saturday 28 April 1951 |

## Qualifying rounds

Most teams that were not members of the Football League competed in the qualifying rounds to secure one of 25 places available in the first round. This season, newly-elected Third Division clubs Colchester United, Scunthorpe & Lindsey United and Shrewsbury Town were also entered in the qualifying rounds, although Shrewsbury Town had to forfeit their preliminary round match against Oswestry Town as it clashed with a League fixture against York City. Colchester and Scunthorpe were entered in the fourth qualifying round, and were (as of 2025) the last Football League clubs to compete in qualifying round fixtures.
The 25 winners from the fourth qualifying round were Ashington, North Shields, Bishop Auckland, Scarborough, Cleator Moor Celtic, Nelson, Witton Albion, Rhyl, Bromsgrove Rovers, Hereford United, Linby Colliery, Worcester City, Gainsborough Trinity, Dartford, Tooting & Mitcham United, Guildford City, Walthamstow Avenue, Tonbridge, Chelmsford City, Bromley, Glastonbury, Cheltenham Town, Llanelli, Gloucester City and Colchester United.
Those appearing in the competition proper for the first time were Cleator Moor Celtic, Linby Colliery, Tonbridge and Glastonbury. Of the others, Nelson had not featured at this stage since 1932–33, Ashington since 1929-30, Worcester City since 1928-29 and Llanelli since 1923-24. With the FA tightening Cup entry requirements in the following seasons, it would also be Cleator Moor Celtic's last appearance at any stage of the competition for 38 years.
Linby Colliery was also the only club to progress from the extra preliminary round to the main draw, defeating Parliament Street Methodists, Retford Town, Shirebrook, Boston United, Spalding United and Nuneaton Borough in order to qualify.

## Results
### First round proper

At this stage 42 of 48 clubs from the Football League Third Division North and South joined the 24 non-league clubs and Colchester United who came through the qualifying rounds. Gateshead, Northampton Town and Stockport County were given byes to the third round. The fourth of the new clubs admitted to the League this season, Gillingham entered in this round as did non-league Willington, who were the champions from the previous season's FA Amateur Cup.
Matches were played on Saturday, 25 November 1950. Six matches were drawn, with replays taking place later the same week.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date | Attendance |
| 1 | Chester | 1–2 | Bradford Park Avenue | 25 November 1950 | |
| 2 | Darlington | 2–7 | Rotherham United | 25 November 1950 | |
| 3 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 1–0 | Colchester United | 25 November 1950 | |
| 4 | Bristol City | 4–0 | Gloucester City | 25 November 1950 | |
| 5 | Rochdale | 3–1 | Willington | 25 November 1950 | |
| 6 | Reading | 3–1 | Cheltenham Town | 25 November 1950 | |
| 7 | Nottingham Forest | 6–1 | Torquay United | 25 November 1950 | |
| 8 | Crewe Alexandra | 4–0 | North Shields | 25 November 1950 | |
| 9 | Lincoln City | 1–1 | Southport | 25 November 1950 | |
| Replay | Southport | 3–2 | Lincoln City | 28 November 1950 | |
| 10 | Gainsborough Trinity | 0–3 | Plymouth Argyle | 25 November 1950 | |
| 11 | Scarborough | 1–2 | Rhyl | 25 November 1950 | |
| 12 | Wrexham | 1–0 | Accrington Stanley | 25 November 1950 | |
| 13 | Bishop Auckland | 2–2 | York City | 25 November 1950 | |
| Replay | York City | 2–1 | Bishop Auckland | 29 November 1950 | |
| 14 | Bristol Rovers | 1–1 | Llanelli | 25 November 1950 | |
| Replay | Llanelli | 1–1 | Bristol Rovers | 28 November 1950 | |
| 2nd replay | Bristol Rovers | 3–1 | Llanelli | 4 December 1950 | |
| 15 | Norwich City | 2–0 | Watford | 25 November 1950 | |
| 16 | Glastonbury | 1–2 | Exeter City | 25 November 1950 | |
| 17 | Bradford City | 2–2 | Oldham Athletic | 25 November 1950 | |
| Replay | Oldham Athletic | 2–1 | Bradford City | 28 November 1950 | |
| 18 | Carlisle United | 2–1 | Barrow | 25 November 1950 | |
| 19 | Crystal Palace | 1–4 | Millwall | 29 November 1950 | |
| 20 | Worcester City | 1–4 | Hartlepools United | 25 November 1950 | |
| 21 | Witton Albion | 1–2 | Nelson | 25 November 1950 | |
| 22 | Southend United | 0–3 | Swindon Town | 25 November 1950 | |
| 23 | Mansfield Town | 1–0 | Walthamstow Avenue | 25 November 1950 | |
| 24 | Bromsgrove Rovers | 1–3 | Hereford United | 25 November 1950 | |
| 25 | Port Vale | 3–2 | New Brighton | 25 November 1950 | |
| 26 | Halifax Town | 2–3 | Ashington | 25 November 1950 | |
| 27 | Newport County | 4–2 | Walsall | 25 November 1950 | |
| 28 | Cleator Moor Celtic | 0–5 | Tranmere Rovers | 25 November 1950 | |
| 29 | Aldershot | 2–2 | Bromley | 25 November 1950 | |
| Replay | Bromley | 0–1 | Aldershot | 29 November 1950 | |
| 30 | Guildford City | 1–5 | Dartford | 25 November 1950 | |
| 31 | Tooting & Mitcham United | 2–3 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 25 November 1950 | |
| 32 | Chelmsford City | 2–2 | Tonbridge | 25 November 1950 | |
| Replay | Tonbridge | 0–1 | Chelmsford City | 29 November 1950 | |
| 33 | Leyton Orient | 1–2 | Ipswich Town | 25 November 1950 | 10,560 |
| 34 | Linby Colliery | 1–4 | Gillingham | 25 November 1950 | |

### Second round proper

The matches were played on Saturday, 9 December 1950. Three matches were drawn, with replays taking place on the following Wednesday. One second replay was played on Monday, 18 December 1950.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date | Attendance |
| 1 | Ashington | 1–2 | Rochdale | 9 December 1950 | |
| 2 | Bristol City | 2–1 | Wrexham | 9 December 1950 | |
| 3 | Reading | 4–0 | Dartford | 9 December 1950 | |
| 4 | Crewe Alexandra | 2–2 | Plymouth Argyle | 9 December 1950 | |
| Replay | Plymouth Argyle | 3–0 | Crewe Alexandra | 13 December 1950 | |
| 5 | Bristol Rovers | 2–2 | Gillingham | 9 December 1950 | |
| Replay | Gillingham | 1–1 | Bristol Rovers | 13 December 1950 | |
| 2nd replay | Bristol Rovers | 2–1 | Gillingham | 18 December 1950 | |
| 6 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2–0 | Ipswich Town | 9 December 1950 | 14,411 |
| 7 | Rhyl | 0–1 | Norwich City | 9 December 1950 | |
| 8 | Millwall | 1–1 | Bradford Park Avenue | 9 December 1950 | |
| Replay | Bradford Park Avenue | 0–1 | Millwall | 13 December 1950 | |
| 9 | Exeter City | 3–0 | Swindon Town | 9 December 1950 | |
| 10 | Hartlepools United | 1–2 | Oldham Athletic | 9 December 1950 | |
| 11 | Port Vale | 3–2 | Nelson | 9 December 1950 | |
| 12 | Southport | 1–3 | Carlisle United | 9 December 1950 | |
| 13 | York City | 2–1 | Tranmere Rovers | 9 December 1950 | |
| 14 | Hereford United | 0–3 | Newport County | 9 December 1950 | |
| 15 | Rotherham United | 3–1 | Nottingham Forest | 9 December 1950 | |
| 16 | Aldershot | 3–0 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 9 December 1950 | |
| 17 | Chelmsford City | 1–4 | Mansfield Town | 9 December 1950 | |

### Third round proper

The 44 First and Second Division clubs entered the competition at this stage along with Gateshead, Northampton Town and Stockport County.
The matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 6 January 1951, though two were postponed until later the same week. Five matches were drawn, with replays taking place later the same week. For the first time since 1924–25, no teams from the qualifying rounds reached this stage (or its pre-1925 equivalent).
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date | Attendance |
| 1 | Bristol City | 2–1 | Blackburn Rovers | 6 January 1951 | |
| 2 | Rochdale | 2–3 | Chelsea | 9 January 1951 | |
| 3 | Leicester City | 0–3 | Preston North End | 6 January 1951 | |
| 4 | Notts County | 3–4 | Southampton | 6 January 1951 | |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 2–0 | Burnley | 6 January 1951 | |
| 6 | Bolton Wanderers | 2–0 | York City | 6 January 1951 | |
| 7 | Grimsby Town | 3–3 | Exeter City | 6 January 1951 | |
| Replay | Exeter City | 4–2 | Grimsby Town | 10 January 1951 | |
| 8 | Sunderland | 2–0 | Coventry City | 6 January 1951 | |
| 9 | Derby County | 2–2 | West Bromwich Albion | 6 January 1951 | |
| Replay | West Bromwich Albion | 0–1 | Derby County | 10 January 1951 | |
| 10 | Luton Town | 2–0 | Portsmouth | 6 January 1951 | |
| 11 | Sheffield United | 1–0 | Gateshead | 6 January 1951 | |
| 12 | Stockport County | 2–1 | Brentford | 6 January 1951 | |
| 13 | Newcastle United | 4–1 | Bury | 6 January 1951 | |
| 14 | Queens Park Rangers | 3–4 | Millwall | 6 January 1951 | |
| 15 | Fulham | 1–0 | Sheffield Wednesday | 6 January 1951 | |
| 16 | Bristol Rovers | 5–1 | Aldershot | 10 January 1951 | |
| 17 | Northampton Town | 3–1 | Barnsley | 6 January 1951 | |
| 18 | West Ham United | 2–1 | Cardiff City | 6 January 1951 | |
| 19 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2–1 | Chesterfield | 6 January 1951 | |
| 20 | Manchester United | 4–1 | Oldham Athletic | 6 January 1951 | |
| 21 | Norwich City | 3–1 | Liverpool | 6 January 1951 | |
| 22 | Plymouth Argyle | 1–2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 6 January 1951 | |
| 23 | Hull City | 2–0 | Everton | 6 January 1951 | |
| 24 | Huddersfield Town | 2–0 | Tottenham Hotspur | 6 January 1951 | |
| 25 | Mansfield Town | 2–0 | Swansea Town | 6 January 1951 | |
| 26 | Newport County | 3–2 | Reading | 6 January 1951 | |
| 27 | Charlton Athletic | 2–2 | Blackpool | 6 January 1951 | |
| Replay | Blackpool | 3–0 | Charlton Athletic | 10 January 1951 | |
| 28 | Arsenal | 0–0 | Carlisle United | 6 January 1951 | |
| Replay | Carlisle United | 1–4 | Arsenal | 11 January 1951 | |
| 29 | Leeds United | 1–0 | Middlesbrough | 6 January 1951 | |
| 30 | Stoke City | 2–2 | Port Vale | 6 January 1951 | |
| Replay | Port Vale | 0–1 | Stoke City | 8 January 1951 | |
| 31 | Rotherham United | 2–1 | Doncaster Rovers | 6 January 1951 | |
| 32 | Birmingham City | 2–0 | Manchester City | 6 January 1951 | 30,057 |

### Fourth round proper

The matches were played on Saturday, 27 January 1951. Two matches were drawn, the replays being played on Wednesday, 31 January 1951.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date | Attendance |
| 1 | Blackpool | 2–1 | Stockport County | 27 January 1951 | |
| 2 | Bristol City | 1–0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 27 January 1951 | |
| 3 | Preston North End | 0–2 | Huddersfield Town | 27 January 1951 | |
| 4 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3–1 | Aston Villa | 27 January 1951 | |
| 5 | Sunderland | 2–0 | Southampton | 27 January 1951 | |
| 6 | Derby County | 1–3 | Birmingham City | 27 January 1951 | 37,384 |
| 7 | Luton Town | 1–2 | Bristol Rovers | 27 January 1951 | |
| 8 | Sheffield United | 0–0 | Mansfield Town | 27 January 1951 | |
| Replay | Mansfield Town | 4–2 | Sheffield United | 31 January 1951 | |
| 9 | Newcastle United | 3–2 | Bolton Wanderers | 27 January 1951 | |
| 10 | Manchester United | 4–0 | Leeds United | 27 January 1951 | |
| 11 | Millwall | 0–1 | Fulham | 27 January 1951 | |
| 12 | Hull City | 2–0 | Rotherham United | 27 January 1951 | |
| 13 | Exeter City | 1–1 | Chelsea | 27 January 1951 | |
| Replay | Chelsea | 2–0 | Exeter City | 31 January 1951 | |
| 14 | Newport County | 0–2 | Norwich City | 27 January 1951 | |
| 15 | Arsenal | 3–2 | Northampton Town | 27 January 1951 | |
| 16 | Stoke City | 1–0 | West Ham United | 27 January 1951 | |

### Fifth round proper

The matches were played on Saturday, 10 February 1951. One match was drawn and replayed the following Wednesday.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date | Attendance |
| 1 | Blackpool | 2–0 | Mansfield Town | 10 February 1951 | |
| 2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–0 | Huddersfield Town | 10 February 1951 | |
| 3 | Sunderland | 3–1 | Norwich City | 10 February 1951 | |
| 4 | Bristol Rovers | 3–0 | Hull City | 10 February 1951 | |
| 5 | Manchester United | 1–0 | Arsenal | 10 February 1951 | |
| 6 | Chelsea | 1–1 | Fulham | 10 February 1951 | |
| Replay | Fulham | 3–0 | Chelsea | 14 February 1951 | |
| 7 | Stoke City | 2–4 | Newcastle United | 10 February 1951 | |
| 8 | Birmingham City | 2–0 | Bristol City | 10 February 1951 | 47,831 |

### Final

The final took place on Saturday, 28 April 1951 at Wembley and ended in a victory for Newcastle United over Blackpool by 2–0, with both goals scored by Jackie Milburn. The attendance was 100,000.
| Newcastle United | Blackpool |