# 1936–37 FA Cup

The 1936–37 FA Cup was the 62nd season of the world's oldest football cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup. Sunderland won the competition for the first time, beating Preston North End 3–1 in the final at Wembley.
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 5 September 1936 |
| Preliminary round | Saturday 19 September 1936 |
| First round qualifying | Saturday 3 October 1936 |
| Second round qualifying | Saturday 17 October 1936 |
| Third round qualifying | Saturday 31 October 1936 |
| Fourth round qualifying | Saturday 14 November 1936 |
| First round proper | Saturday 28 November 1936 |
| Second round proper | Saturday 12 December 1936 |
| Third round proper | Saturday 16 January 1937 |
| Fourth round proper | Saturday 30 January 1937 |
| Fifth round proper | Saturday 20 February 1937 |
| Sixth round proper | Saturday 6 March 1937 |
| Semi-finals | Saturday 10 April 1937 |
| Final | Saturday 1 May 1937 |

## Qualifying rounds

Most participating clubs that were not members of the Football League competed in the qualifying rounds to secure one of 25 places available in the first round.
The 25 winners from this season's fourth qualifying round were Spennymoor United, Blyth Spartans, Shildon, Morecambe, South Liverpool, Wigan Athletic, Stalybridge Celtic, Wellington Town, Frickley Colliery, Boston United, Scunthorpe & Lindsey United, Burton Town, Peterborough United, Ipswich Town, Southall, Harwich & Parkeston, Tunbridge Wells Rangers, Dulwich Hamlet, Worthing, Folkestone, Dartford, Walthamstow Avenue, Ryde Sports, Bath City and Yeovil & Petter's United.
Those appearing in the competition proper for the first time were Morecambe, South Liverpool, Frickley Colliery, Ipswich Town and Worthing. Peterborough United were also featuring in the main draw for the first time in their own right, just five seasons after predecessor outfit Peterborough & Fletton United had last reached this stage.
Two clubs progressed from the extra preliminary round to the first round proper. Frickley Colliery defeated Ryhill & Havercroft United, Yorkshire Amateur, Worksop Town, Norton Woodseats, Denaby United and Ripley Town before losing to Southport; while Harwich & Parkeston defeated Maldon & Heybridge, Crittall Athletic, Dagenham Town, Romford, Barking and Hayes before going out to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic at Dean Court.

## First round proper

At this stage 41 clubs from the Football League Third Division North and South joined the 25 non-league clubs having come through the qualifying rounds. Chester, Port Vale and Luton Town were given byes to the third round. To make the number of matches up, non-league sides Ilford and Corinthian were given byes to this round. Ilford were the runners-up from the previous season's FA Amateur Cup, but the bye was passed to them as the winners, Casuals were no longer entering the FA Cup.
34 matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 28 November 1936. Four were drawn and went to replays in the following midweek.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Dartford | 3–0 | Peterborough United | 28 November 1936 |
| 2 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 5–1 | Harwich & Parkeston | 28 November 1936 |
| 3 | Barrow | 0–4 | Mansfield Town | 28 November 1936 |
| 4 | Bath City | 1–2 | Tunbridge Wells Rangers | 28 November 1936 |
| 5 | Walsall | 3–0 | Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 28 November 1936 |
| 6 | Crewe Alexandra | 5–1 | Rochdale | 28 November 1936 |
| 7 | Lincoln City | 1–1 | New Brighton | 28 November 1936 |
| Replay | New Brighton | 2–3 | Lincoln City | 2 December 1936 |
| 8 | Swindon Town | 6–0 | Dulwich Hamlet | 28 November 1936 |
| 9 | Ipswich Town | 2–1 | Watford | 28 November 1936 |
| 10 | Ilford | 2–4 | Reading | 28 November 1936 |
| 11 | Queens Park Rangers | 5–1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 28 November 1936 |
| 12 | Accrington Stanley | 3–1 | Wellington Town | 28 November 1936 |
| 13 | South Liverpool | 1–0 | Morecambe | 28 November 1936 |
| 14 | Shildon | 4–2 | Stalybridge Celtic | 28 November 1936 |
| 15 | Carlisle United | 2–1 | Stockport County | 28 November 1936 |
| 16 | Clapton Orient | 2–1 | Torquay United | 28 November 1936 |
| 17 | Oldham Athletic | 1–0 | Tranmere Rovers | 28 November 1936 |
| 18 | Crystal Palace | 1–1 | Southend United | 28 November 1936 |
| Replay | Southend United | 2–0 | Crystal Palace | 2 December 1936 |
| 19 | Exeter City | 3–0 | Folkestone | 28 November 1936 |
| 20 | Blyth Spartans | 0–2 | Wrexham | 28 November 1936 |
| 21 | Cardiff City | 3–1 | Southall | 28 November 1936 |
| 22 | Frickley Colliery | 0–2 | Southport | 28 November 1936 |
| 23 | Burton Town | 5–1 | Wigan Athletic | 28 November 1936 |
| 24 | Halifax Town | 1–2 | Darlington | 28 November 1936 |
| 25 | Newport County | 3–0 | Bristol City | 28 November 1936 |
| 26 | Yeovil & Petter's United | 4–3 | Worthing | 28 November 1936 |
| 27 | Ryde Sports | 1–5 | Gillingham | 28 November 1936 |
| 28 | Walthamstow Avenue | 6–1 | Northampton Town | 28 November 1936 |
| 29 | Corinthian | 0–2 | Bristol Rovers | 28 November 1936 |
| 30 | York City | 5–2 | Hull City | 28 November 1936 |
| 31 | Rotherham United | 4–4 | Hartlepools United | 28 November 1936 |
| Replay | Hartlepools United | 2–0 | Rotherham United | 2 December 1936 |
| 32 | Aldershot | 1–6 | Millwall | 28 November 1936 |
| 33 | Gateshead | 2–0 | Notts County | 28 November 1936 |
| 34 | Boston United | 1–1 | Spennymoor United | 28 November 1936 |
| Replay | Spennymoor United | 2–0 | Boston United | 2 December 1936 |

## Second round proper

The matches were played on Saturday, 12 December 1936, with one match postponed until the 17th. Three matches were drawn, with replays taking place in the following midweek.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Reading | 7–2 | Newport County | 12 December 1936 |
| 2 | Walsall | 1–1 | Yeovil & Petter's United | 12 December 1936 |
| Replay | Yeovil & Petter's United | 0–1 | Walsall | 16 December 1936 |
| 3 | Crewe Alexandra | 1–1 | Hartlepools United | 12 December 1936 |
| Replay | Hartlepools United | 1–2 | Crewe Alexandra | 16 December 1936 |
| 4 | Lincoln City | 2–3 | Oldham Athletic | 12 December 1936 |
| 5 | Wrexham | 2–0 | Gillingham | 12 December 1936 |
| 6 | Ipswich Town | 1–2 | Spennymoor United | 12 December 1936 |
| 7 | Accrington Stanley | 1–0 | Tunbridge Wells Rangers | 12 December 1936 |
| 8 | Bristol Rovers | 2–1 | Southport | 12 December 1936 |
| 9 | South Liverpool | 0–1 | Queens Park Rangers | 12 December 1936 |
| 10 | Shildon | 0–3 | Dartford | 12 December 1936 |
| 11 | Millwall | 7–0 | Gateshead | 12 December 1936 |
| 12 | Carlisle United | 4–1 | Clapton Orient | 12 December 1936 |
| 13 | Southend United | 3–3 | York City | 12 December 1936 |
| Replay | York City | 2–1 | Southend United | 16 December 1936 |
| 14 | Mansfield Town | 0–3 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 12 December 1936 |
| 15 | Cardiff City | 2–1 | Swindon Town | 12 December 1936 |
| 16 | Burton Town | 1–2 | Darlington | 12 December 1936 |
| 17 | Walthamstow Avenue | 2–3 | Exeter City | 17 December 1936 |

## Third round proper

The 44 First and Second Division clubs entered the competition at this stage along with Chester, Port Vale and Luton Town.
The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 16 January 1937. Four matches were drawn and went to replays in the following midweek. Spennymoor United and Dartford were the last clubs from the qualifying rounds left in the competition.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Chester | 4–0 | Doncaster Rovers | 16 January 1937 |
| 2 | Chesterfield | 1–5 | Arsenal | 16 January 1937 |
| 3 | Dartford | 0–1 | Darlington | 16 January 1937 |
| 4 | Bury | 1–0 | Queens Park Rangers | 16 January 1937 |
| 5 | Preston North End | 2–0 | Newcastle United | 16 January 1937 |
| 6 | Southampton | 2–3 | Sunderland | 16 January 1937 |
| 7 | Walsall | 3–1 | Barnsley | 16 January 1937 |
| 8 | Nottingham Forest | 2–4 | Sheffield United | 16 January 1937 |
| 9 | Blackburn Rovers | 2–2 | Accrington Stanley | 16 January 1937 |
| Replay | Accrington Stanley | 3–1 | Blackburn Rovers | 20 January 1937 |
| 10 | Aston Villa | 2–3 | Burnley | 16 January 1937 |
| 11 | Sheffield Wednesday | 2–0 | Port Vale | 16 January 1937 |
| 12 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 6–1 | Middlesbrough | 16 January 1937 |
| 13 | Crewe Alexandra | 0–2 | Plymouth Argyle | 16 January 1937 |
| 14 | West Bromwich Albion | 7–1 | Spennymoor United | 16 January 1937 |
| 15 | Luton Town | 3–3 | Blackpool | 16 January 1937 |
| Replay | Blackpool | 1–2 | Luton Town | 20 January 1937 |
| 16 | Everton | 5–0 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 16 January 1937 |
| 17 | Wrexham | 1–3 | Manchester City | 16 January 1937 |
| 18 | Brentford | 5–0 | Huddersfield Town | 16 January 1937 |
| 19 | Bristol Rovers | 2–5 | Leicester City | 16 January 1937 |
| 20 | Coventry City | 2–0 | Charlton Athletic | 16 January 1937 |
| 21 | Portsmouth | 0–5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 16 January 1937 |
| 22 | West Ham United | 0–0 | Bolton Wanderers | 16 January 1937 |
| Replay | Bolton Wanderers | 1–0 | West Ham United | 20 January 1937 |
| 23 | Manchester United | 1–0 | Reading | 16 January 1937 |
| 24 | Norwich City | 3–0 | Liverpool | 16 January 1937 |
| 25 | Bradford City | 2–2 | York City | 16 January 1937 |
| Replay | York City | 1–0 | Bradford City | 20 January 1937 |
| 26 | Millwall | 2–0 | Fulham | 16 January 1937 |
| 27 | Chelsea | 4–0 | Leeds United | 16 January 1937 |
| 28 | Bradford Park Avenue | 0–4 | Derby County | 16 January 1937 |
| 29 | Exeter City | 3–0 | Oldham Athletic | 16 January 1937 |
| 30 | Cardiff City | 1–3 | Grimsby Town | 16 January 1937 |
| 31 | Swansea Town | 1–0 | Carlisle United | 16 January 1937 |
| 32 | Stoke City | 4–1 | Birmingham | 16 January 1937 |

## Fourth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 30 January 1937. Four games were drawn and went to replays in the following midweek.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Burnley | 4–1 | Bury | 30 January 1937 |
| 2 | Preston North End | 5–1 | Stoke City | 30 January 1937 |
| 3 | Bolton Wanderers | 1–1 | Norwich City | 30 January 1937 |
| Replay | Norwich City | 1–2 | Bolton Wanderers | 4 February 1937 |
| 4 | Grimsby Town | 5–1 | Walsall | 30 January 1937 |
| 5 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–2 | Sheffield United | 30 January 1937 |
| Replay | Sheffield United | 1–2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 4 February 1937 |
| 6 | West Bromwich Albion | 3–2 | Darlington | 30 January 1937 |
| 7 | Derby County | 3–0 | Brentford | 30 January 1937 |
| 8 | Luton Town | 2–2 | Sunderland | 30 January 1937 |
| Replay | Sunderland | 3–1 | Luton Town | 3 February 1937 |
| 9 | Everton | 3–0 | Sheffield Wednesday | 30 January 1937 |
| 10 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1–0 | Plymouth Argyle | 30 January 1937 |
| 11 | Manchester City | 2–0 | Accrington Stanley | 30 January 1937 |
| 12 | Coventry City | 2–0 | Chester | 30 January 1937 |
| 13 | Millwall | 3–0 | Chelsea | 30 January 1937 |
| 14 | Exeter City | 3–1 | Leicester City | 30 January 1937 |
| 15 | Swansea Town | 0–0 | York City | 30 January 1937 |
| Replay | York City | 1–3 | Swansea Town | 3 February 1937 |
| 16 | Arsenal | 5–0 | Manchester United | 30 January 1937 |

## Fifth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 20 February 1937. There were two replays, played in the next midweek.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Burnley | 1–7 | Arsenal | 20 February 1937 |
| 2 | Preston North End | 5–3 | Exeter City | 20 February 1937 |
| 3 | Bolton Wanderers | 0–5 | Manchester City | 20 February 1937 |
| 4 | Grimsby Town | 1–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 20 February 1937 |
| Replay | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 6–2 | Grimsby Town | 24 February 1937 |
| 5 | Sunderland | 3–0 | Swansea Town | 20 February 1937 |
| 6 | Everton | 1–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 20 February 1937 |
| Replay | Tottenham Hotspur | 4–3 | Everton | 22 February 1937 |
| 7 | Coventry City | 2–3 | West Bromwich Albion | 20 February 1937 |
| 8 | Millwall | 2–1 | Derby County | 20 February 1937 |

## Sixth round proper

The four quarter final ties were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 6 March 1937. The Wolverhampton Wanderers–Sunderland match went to two replays before it was settled, in Sunderland's favour. This was the only second replay to take place in the FA Cup proper.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–1 | Sunderland | 6 March 1937 |
| Replay | Sunderland | 2–2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 10 March 1937 |
| Replay | Sunderland | 4–0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 15 March 1937 |
| 2 | West Bromwich Albion | 3–1 | Arsenal | 6 March 1937 |
| 3 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1–3 | Preston North End | 6 March 1937 |
| 4 | Millwall | 2–0 | Manchester City | 6 March 1937 |

## Semi-finals

The semi-final matches were played on Saturday, 10 April 1937. Sunderland and Preston North End won their matches to meet in the final at Wembley

## Final

The 1937 FA Cup Final - the first such final played in the month of May - was contested by Sunderland and Preston North End at Wembley. Sunderland won 3–1, with goals by Bobby Gurney, Raich Carter and Eddie Burbanks. Frank O'Donnell's strike on 38 minutes had put Preston ahead.

### Match details

| Sunderland | Preston North End |