1920–21 FA Cup


The 1920–21 FA Cup was the 46th season of the world's oldest association football competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup. Tottenham Hotspur won the competition, beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 in the final at Stamford Bridge, 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

The format of the FA Cup for the season had two preliminary rounds, six qualifying rounds, four proper rounds, and the semi-finals and final.
RoundDate
Extra preliminary roundSaturday 11 September 1920
Preliminary roundSaturday 25 September 1920
First round qualifyingSaturday 9 October 1920
Second round qualifyingSaturday 24 October 1920
Third round qualifyingSaturday 6 November 1920
Fourth Round qualifyingSaturday 20 November 1920
Fifth round qualifyingSaturday 4 December 1920
Sixth round qualifyingSaturday 18 December 1920
First round properSaturday 8 January 1921
Second round properSaturday 29 January 1921
Third round properSaturday 19 February 1921
Fourth round properSaturday 5 March 1921
Semi-finalsSaturday 19 March 1921
FinalSaturday 23 April 1921

First round proper

52 of the 66 clubs from the First, Second and Third divisions joined the 12 clubs who came through the qualifying rounds.
Of those sides not receiving a bye to the first round proper, Second Division side Leeds United were entered at the First Qualifying Round stage, as their promotion to the second tier was agreed by election, rather than through promotion. However, the match was not played, and Harrogate were given a walkover. Three sides from the Third Division were entered at the fourth qualifying round. Five Third Division and four Second Division sides were entered at the sixth qualifying round stage. These were:
;Second Division
;Third Division
Of these, all of the Third Division sides and Clapton Orient proceeded to the first round proper, in addition to six non-league sides. 32 matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 8 January 1921. Six matches were drawn and went to replays in the following midweek fixture, of which one went to another replay.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Darlington2–2Blackpool8 January 1921
ReplayBlackpool2–1Darlington12 January 1921
2Liverpool1–1Manchester United8 January 1921
ReplayManchester United1–2Liverpool12 January 1921
3Preston North End2–0Bolton Wanderers8 January 1921
4South Shields3–0Portsmouth8 January 1921
5Watford3–0Exeter City8 January 1921
6Reading0–0Chelsea8 January 1921
ReplayChelsea2–2Reading12 January 1921
ReplayChelsea3–1Reading17 January 1921
7Leicester City3–7Burnley8 January 1921
8Notts County3–0West Bromwich Albion8 January 1921
9Blackburn Rovers1–1Fulham8 January 1921
ReplayFulham1–0Blackburn Rovers12 January 1921
10Aston Villa2–0Bristol City8 January 1921
11The Wednesday1–0West Ham United8 January 1921
12Grimsby Town1–0Norwich City8 January 1921
13Wolverhampton Wanderers3–2Stoke8 January 1921
14Sunderland0–1Cardiff City8 January 1921
15Derby County2–0Middlesbrough8 January 1921
16Luton Town2–1Birmingham8 January 1921
17Everton1–0Stockport County8 January 1921
18Swindon Town1–0Sheffield United8 January 1921
19Newcastle United1–1Nottingham Forest8 January 1921
ReplayNewcastle United2–0Nottingham Forest12 January 1921
20Tottenham Hotspur6–2Bristol Rovers8 January 1921
21Queens Park Rangers2–0Arsenal8 January 1921
22Brentford1–2Huddersfield Town8 January 1921
23Northampton Town0–0Southampton8 January 1921
ReplaySouthampton4–1Northampton Town12 January 1921
24Brighton & Hove Albion4–1Oldham Athletic8 January 1921
25Plymouth Argyle2–0Rochdale8 January 1921
26Bradford City3–1Barnsley8 January 1921
27Millwall0–3Lincoln City8 January 1921
28Hull City3–0Bath City8 January 1921
29Crystal Palace2–0Manchester City8 January 1921
30Southend United5–1Eccles United8 January 1921
31Bradford Park Avenue1–0Clapton Orient8 January 1921
32Swansea Town3–0Bury8 January 1921

Second round proper

The 16 second round matches were played on Saturday, 29 January 1921. Five matches were drawn, with replays taking place in the following midweek fixture.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Burnley4–2Queens Park Rangers29 January 1921
2Preston North End4–1Watford29 January 1921
3South Shields0–4Luton Town29 January 1921
4Notts County0–0Aston Villa29 January 1921
ReplayAston Villa1–0Notts County2 February 1921
5Grimsby Town1–3Southampton29 January 1921
6Derby County1–1Wolverhampton Wanderers29 January 1921
ReplayWolverhampton Wanderers1–0Derby County2 February 1921
7Lincoln City0–0Fulham29 January 1921
ReplayFulham1–0Lincoln City2 February 1921
8Everton1–1The Wednesday29 January 1921
ReplayThe Wednesday0–1Everton2 February 1921
9Swindon Town0–2Chelsea29 January 1921
10Newcastle United1–0Liverpool29 January 1921
11Tottenham Hotspur4–0Bradford City29 January 1921
12Brighton & Hove Albion0–0Cardiff City29 January 1921
ReplayCardiff City1–0Brighton & Hove Albion2 February 1921
13Crystal Palace0–2Hull City29 January 1921
14Southend United1–0Blackpool29 January 1921
15Bradford Park Avenue0–1Huddersfield Town29 January 1921
16Swansea Town1–2Plymouth Argyle29 January 1921

Third round proper

The eight third round matches were scheduled for Saturday, 19 February 1921. One match was drawn and went to a replay in the following midweek fixture. This was also drawn, and so a second replay was played the following week.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Southampton0–1Cardiff City19 February 1921
2Aston Villa2–0Huddersfield Town19 February 1921
3Luton Town2–3Preston North End19 February 1921
4Everton3–0Newcastle United19 February 1921
5Fulham0–1Wolverhampton Wanderers19 February 1921
6Plymouth Argyle0–0Chelsea19 February 1921
ReplayChelsea0–0Plymouth Argyle23 February 1921
ReplayChelsea2–1Plymouth Argyle28 February 1921
7Hull City3–0Burnley19 February 1921
8Southend United1–4Tottenham Hotspur19 February 1921

Fourth round proper

The four fourth round matches were scheduled for Saturday, 5 March 1921. There was one replay, between Hull City and Preston North End, played in the following midweek fixture.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Everton0–1Wolverhampton Wanderers5 March 1921
2Tottenham Hotspur1–0Aston Villa5 March 1921
3Hull City0–0Preston North End5 March 1921
ReplayPreston North End1–0Hull City9 March 1921
4Cardiff City1–0Chelsea5 March 1921

Semi-finals

The semi-final matches were played on Saturday, 19 March 1921. The Wolverhampton Wanderers–Cardiff City match was drawn and went to a replay four days later. Wolves won this, and went on to meet Tottenham Hotspur in the final.
;Replay
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Final

The Final was contested by Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge. Spurs won by a single goal, scored by Jimmy Dimmock, eight minutes into the second half. The cup was presented to the winning team by King George V.

Match details