# 1947–48 FA Cup

The 1947–48 FA Cup was the 67th staging of the world's oldest football cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup. Manchester United won the competition for only the second time, beating Blackpool 4–2 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 6 September 1947 |
| Preliminary round | Saturday 20 September 1947 |
| First qualifying round | Saturday 4 October 1947 |
| Second qualifying round | Saturday 18 October 1947 |
| Third qualifying round | Saturday 1 November 1947 |
| Fourth qualifying round | Saturday 15 November 1947 |
| First round proper | Saturday 29 November 1947 |
| Second round | Saturday 13 December 1947 |
| Third round | Saturday 10 January 1948 |
| Fourth round | Saturday 24 January 1948 |
| Fifth round | Saturday 7 February 1948 |
| Sixth round | Saturday 28 February 1948 |
| Semifinals | Saturday 13 March 1948 |
| Final | Saturday 24 April 1948 |

## 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 the fourth qualifying round were Bishop Auckland, Stockton, South Shields, Workington, Lancaster City, Marine, Runcorn, Stalybridge Celtic, Bromsgrove Rovers, Shrewsbury Town, Scunthorpe & Lindsey United, Grantham, Vauxhall Motors (Luton), Colchester United, Great Yarmouth Town, Banbury Spencer, Gillingham, Bromley, Horsham, Dartford, Guildford City, Trowbridge Town, Cheltenham Town, Merthyr Tydfil and Street.
Those appearing in the competition proper for the first time were Bromsgrove Rovers, Vauxhall Motors (Luton), Great Yarmouth Town, Banbury Spencer, Horsham and the re-formed South Shields. Bromsgrove's surprise qualification marked the first time the club had progressed past the preliminary round since 1921–22.
Banbury Spencer was the only club to progress from the extra preliminary round to the competition proper, defeating Oxford City, Osberton Radiator, the team from the Cowley-based Metal & Produce Recovery Depot, Maidenhead United, Southall and Grays Athletic before losing to Colchester United in that club's historic run to the fifth round.

## First round proper

At this stage 41 clubs from the Football League Third Division North and South joined the 25 non-league clubs that came through the qualifying rounds. Rotherham United, Queens Park Rangers and Swansea Town were given byes to the third round. To make the number of matches up, non-league Leytonstone and Wimbledon, the previous season's F. A. Amateur Cup winners and runners-up, were given byes to this round.
34 matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 29 November 1947. Six were drawn and went to replays.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Chester | 3–1 | Bishop Auckland | 29 November 1947 |
| 2 | Dartford | 0–0 | Bristol City | 29 November 1947 |
| Replay | Bristol City | 9–2 | Dartford | 6 December 1947 |
| 3 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 2–0 | Guildford City | 29 November 1947 |
| 4 | Barrow | 3–2 | Carlisle United | 29 November 1947 |
| 5 | Watford | 1–1 | Torquay United | 29 November 1947 |
| Replay | Torquay United | 3–0 | Watford | 6 December 1947 |
| 6 | Gillingham | 1–0 | Leyton Orient | 29 November 1947 |
| 7 | Notts County | 9–1 | Horsham | 29 November 1947 |
| 8 | Crewe Alexandra | 4–1 | South Shields | 29 November 1947 |
| 9 | Lincoln City | 0–2 | Workington | 29 November 1947 |
| 10 | Swindon Town | 4–2 | Ipswich Town | 29 November 1947 |
| 11 | Stockton | 2–1 | Grantham | 29 November 1947 |
| 12 | Wrexham | 5–0 | Halifax Town | 29 November 1947 |
| 13 | Tranmere Rovers | 2–0 | Stalybridge Celtic | 29 November 1947 |
| 14 | Stockport County | 3–1 | Accrington Stanley | 29 November 1947 |
| 15 | Trowbridge Town | 1–1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 29 November 1947 |
| Replay | Brighton & Hove Albion | 5–0 | Trowbridge Town | 6 December 1947 |
| 16 | Bristol Rovers | 3–2 | Leytonstone | 29 November 1947 |
| 17 | Bromley | 3–3 | Reading | 29 November 1947 |
| Replay | Reading | 3–0 | Bromley | 6 December 1947 |
| 18 | Great Yarmouth Town | 1–4 | Shrewsbury Town | 29 November 1947 |
| 19 | Norwich City | 3–0 | Merthyr Tydfil | 29 November 1947 |
| 20 | Hull City | 1–1 | Southport | 29 November 1947 |
| Replay | Southport | 2–3 | Hull City | 6 December 1947 |
| 21 | Oldham Athletic | 6–0 | Lancaster City | 29 November 1947 |
| 22 | Crystal Palace | 2–1 | Port Vale | 29 November 1947 |
| 23 | Wimbledon | 0–1 | Mansfield Town | 29 November 1947 |
| 24 | Exeter City | 1–1 | Northampton Town | 29 November 1947 |
| Replay | Northampton Town | 2–0 | Exeter City | 6 December 1947 |
| 25 | Hartlepools United | 1–0 | Darlington | 29 November 1947 |
| 26 | Newport County | 3–2 | Southend United | 29 November 1947 |
| 27 | Cheltenham Town | 5–0 | Street | 29 November 1947 |
| 28 | Runcorn | 4–2 | Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 29 November 1947 |
| 29 | Vauxhall Motors (Luton) | 1–2 | Walsall | 29 November 1947 |
| 30 | New Brighton | 4–0 | Marine | 29 November 1947 |
| 31 | York City | 0–1 | Rochdale | 29 November 1947 |
| 32 | Aldershot | 2–1 | Bromsgrove Rovers | 29 November 1947 |
| 33 | Gateshead | 1–3 | Bradford City | 29 November 1947 |
| 34 | Colchester United | 2–1 | Banbury Spencer | 29 November 1947 |

## Second round proper

The matches were played on Saturday, 13 December 1947. Seven matches were drawn, with replays taking place the following Saturday. One of these then went to a second replay.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 1–0 | Bradford City | 13 December 1947 |
| 2 | Bristol City | 0–1 | Crystal Palace | 13 December 1947 |
| 3 | Rochdale | 1–1 | Gillingham | 13 December 1947 |
| Replay | Gillingham | 3–0 | Rochdale | 20 December 1947 |
| 4 | Reading | 3–0 | Newport County | 13 December 1947 |
| 5 | Notts County | 1–1 | Stockton | 13 December 1947 |
| Replay | Stockton | 1–4 | Notts County | 20 December 1947 |
| 6 | Tranmere Rovers | 0–1 | Chester | 13 December 1947 |
| 7 | Stockport County | 1–1 | Shrewsbury Town | 13 December 1947 |
| Replay | Shrewsbury Town | 2–2 | Stockport County | 20 December 1947 |
| Replay | Stockport County | 3–2 | Shrewsbury Town | 22 December 1947 |
| 8 | Bristol Rovers | 4–0 | New Brighton | 13 December 1947 |
| 9 | Northampton Town | 1–1 | Torquay United | 13 December 1947 |
| Replay | Torquay United | 2–0 | Northampton Town | 20 December 1947 |
| 10 | Norwich City | 2–2 | Walsall | 13 December 1947 |
| Replay | Walsall | 3–2 | Norwich City | 20 December 1947 |
| 11 | Hull City | 4–2 | Cheltenham Town | 13 December 1947 |
| 12 | Oldham Athletic | 0–1 | Mansfield Town | 13 December 1947 |
| 13 | Hartlepools United | 1–1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 13 December 1947 |
| Replay | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2–1 | Hartlepools United | 20 December 1947 |
| 14 | Runcorn | 0–1 | Barrow | 13 December 1947 |
| 15 | Workington | 1–2 | Crewe Alexandra | 13 December 1947 |
| 16 | Aldershot | 0–0 | Swindon Town | 13 December 1947 |
| Replay | Swindon Town | 2–0 | Aldershot | 20 December 1947 |
| 17 | Colchester United | 1–0 | Wrexham | 13 December 1947 |

## Third round proper

The 44 First and Second Division clubs entered the competition at this stage, along with Rotherham United, Queens Park Rangers and Swansea Town.
The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 10 January 1948. Two matches were drawn and went to replays on the following Saturday.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Blackpool | 4–0 | Leeds United | 10 January 1948 |
| 2 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 1–2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 10 January 1948 |
| 3 | Burnley | 0–2 | Swindon Town | 10 January 1948 |
| 4 | Liverpool | 4–1 | Nottingham Forest | 10 January 1948 |
| 5 | Southampton | 1–0 | Sunderland | 10 January 1948 |
| 6 | Gillingham | 1–1 | Queens Park Rangers | 10 January 1948 |
| Replay | Queens Park Rangers | 3–1 | Gillingham | 17 January 1948 |
| 7 | Leicester City | 1–0 | Bury | 10 January 1948 |
| 8 | Blackburn Rovers | 0–0 | West Ham United | 10 January 1948 |
| Replay | West Ham United | 2–4 | Blackburn Rovers | 17 January 1948 |
| 9 | Aston Villa | 4–6 | Manchester United | 10 January 1948 |
| 10 | Bolton Wanderers | 0–2 | Tottenham Hotspur | 10 January 1948 |
| 11 | Grimsby Town | 1–4 | Everton | 10 January 1948 |
| 12 | Crewe Alexandra | 3–1 | Sheffield United | 10 January 1948 |
| 13 | West Bromwich Albion | 2–0 | Reading | 10 January 1948 |
| 14 | Derby County | 2–0 | Chesterfield | 10 January 1948 |
| 15 | Stockport County | 3–0 | Torquay United | 10 January 1948 |
| 16 | Manchester City | 2–1 | Barnsley | 10 January 1948 |
| 17 | Fulham | 2–0 | Doncaster Rovers | 10 January 1948 |
| 18 | Bristol Rovers | 3–0 | Swansea Town | 10 January 1948 |
| 19 | Coventry City | 2–1 | Walsall | 10 January 1948 |
| 20 | Portsmouth | 4–1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 10 January 1948 |
| 21 | Plymouth Argyle | 2–4 | Luton Town | 10 January 1948 |
| 22 | Millwall | 1–2 | Preston North End | 10 January 1948 |
| 23 | Hull City | 1–3 | Middlesbrough | 10 January 1948 |
| 24 | Crystal Palace | 0–1 | Chester | 10 January 1948 |
| 25 | Chelsea | 5–0 | Barrow | 10 January 1948 |
| 26 | Mansfield Town | 2–4 | Stoke City | 10 January 1948 |
| 27 | Cardiff City | 1–2 | Sheffield Wednesday | 10 January 1948 |
| 28 | Charlton Athletic | 2–1 | Newcastle United | 10 January 1948 |
| 29 | Arsenal | 0–1 | Bradford Park Avenue | 10 January 1948 |
| 30 | Rotherham United | 0–3 | Brentford | 10 January 1948 |
| 31 | Colchester United | 1–0 | Huddersfield Town | 10 January 1948 |
| 32 | Birmingham City | 0–2 | Notts County | 10 January 1948 |

## Fourth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 24 January 1948. One game was drawn and went to a replay, which was played on the following Saturday.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Blackpool | 4–0 | Chester | 24 January 1948 |
| 2 | Southampton | 3–2 | Blackburn Rovers | 24 January 1948 |
| 3 | Leicester City | 2–1 | Sheffield Wednesday | 24 January 1948 |
| 4 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–1 | Everton | 24 January 1948 |
| Replay | Everton | 3–2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 31 January 1948 |
| 5 | Crewe Alexandra | 0–3 | Derby County | 24 January 1948 |
| 6 | Luton Town | 3–2 | Coventry City | 24 January 1948 |
| 7 | Swindon Town | 1–0 | Notts County | 24 January 1948 |
| 8 | Tottenham Hotspur | 3–1 | West Bromwich Albion | 24 January 1948 |
| 9 | Manchester City | 2–0 | Chelsea | 24 January 1948 |
| 10 | Queens Park Rangers | 3–0 | Stoke City | 24 January 1948 |
| 11 | Fulham | 5–2 | Bristol Rovers | 24 January 1948 |
| 12 | Brentford | 1–2 | Middlesbrough | 24 January 1948 |
| 13 | Portsmouth | 1–3 | Preston North End | 24 January 1948 |
| 14 | Manchester United | 3–0 | Liverpool | 24 January 1948 |
| 15 | Charlton Athletic | 3–0 | Stockport County | 24 January 1948 |
| 16 | Colchester United | 3–2 | Bradford Park Avenue | 24 January 1948 |

## Fifth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 7 February 1948. There was one replay, taking place the following Saturday. Colchester United, the first non-league club to reach this stage (or its pre-1925 equivalent) since Cardiff City in 1919-20, was the last club from the qualifying rounds left in the competition.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Blackpool | 5–0 | Colchester United | 7 February 1948 |
| 2 | Southampton | 3–0 | Swindon Town | 7 February 1948 |
| 3 | Middlesbrough | 1–2 | Derby County | 7 February 1948 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 5–2 | Leicester City | 7 February 1948 |
| 5 | Manchester City | 0–1 | Preston North End | 7 February 1948 |
| 6 | Queens Park Rangers | 3–1 | Luton Town | 7 February 1948 |
| 7 | Fulham | 1–1 | Everton | 7 February 1948 |
| Replay | Everton | 0–1 | Fulham | 14 February 1948 |
| 8 | Manchester United | 2–0 | Charlton Athletic | 7 February 1948 |

## Sixth round proper

The four quarter-final ties were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 28 February 1948. There was one replay, in the QPR–Derby County match.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Southampton | 0–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 28 February 1948 |
| 2 | Queens Park Rangers | 1–1 | Derby County | 28 February 1948 |
| Replay | Derby County | 5–0 | Queens Park Rangers | 6 March 1948 |
| 3 | Fulham | 0–2 | Blackpool | 28 February 1948 |
| 4 | Manchester United | 4–1 | Preston North End | 28 February 1948 |

## Semi-finals

The semi-final matches were played on Saturday, 13 March 1948. Manchester United and Blackpool won their ties to meet in the final at Wembley. The gate receipts for the tie at Villa Park were £18,817 a record at the time for that ground.

## Final

The 1948 FA Cup final was contested by Manchester United and Blackpool at Wembley Stadium on 24 April 1948. Both teams played in a changed strip, Blackpool in white shirts and blue shorts and Manchester United in unfamiliar blue shirts and white shorts. Stanley Matthews was playing his first season for Blackpool and they led the favourites 2-1 only to lose to United, who hadn't appeared in an FA Cup final for 39 years, won 4–2, with two goals from Jack Rowley and one apiece from Stan Pearson and John Anderson. Eddie Shimwell and Stan Mortensen scored Blackpool's goals. With his goal, Shimwell became the first full-back to score at Wembley whilst Stan Mortensen maintained his record of scoring in every round. The cup had gone to United in a game that many critics still rate as the best footballing final ever seen at Wembley Stadium. One reporter David Pole, commented; "If United's display was as close to perfection as any team could hope to go, Blackpool's was not far behind."

### Match details

| Manchester United | Blackpool |