| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | England Wales |
| Defending champions | West Bromwich Albion |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Newcastle United(6th title) |
| Runners-up | Manchester City |
The1954–55 FA Cup was the 74th season of the world's oldestfootballcup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as theFA Cup.Newcastle United won the competition for the sixth time, beatingManchester City 3–1 inthe final atWembley.
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 ofextra time would be played.
| Round | Date |
|---|---|
| Preliminary round | Saturday 11 September 1954 |
| First round qualifying | Saturday 25 September 1954 |
| Second round qualifying | Saturday 9 October 1954 |
| Third round qualifying | Saturday 23 October 1954 |
| Fourth round qualifying | Saturday 6 November 1954 |
| First round proper | Saturday 20 November 1954 |
| Second round proper | Saturday 11 December 1954 |
| Third round proper | Saturday 8 January 1955 |
| Fourth round proper | Saturday 29 January 1955 |
| Fifth round proper | Saturday 19 February 1955 |
| Sixth round proper | Saturday 12 March 1955 |
| Semi-finals | Saturday 26 March 1955 |
| Final | Saturday 7 May 1955 |
Most participating clubs that were not members of theFootball League competed in the qualifying rounds to secure one of 30 places available in the first round.
The winners from the fourth qualifying round wereScarborough,Horden Colliery Welfare,Blyth Spartans,Stanley United,Netherfield (Kendal),Hyde United,Rhyl,Wigan Athletic,Creswell Colliery,Selby Town,Corby Town,Nuneaton Borough,Hinckley Athletic,Boston United,Kettering Town,Wellington Town,Cambridge United,Bedford Town,Chelmsford City,Walthamstow Avenue,Hounslow Town,Barnet,Headington United,Tunbridge Wells United,Hastings United,Dorchester Town,Barnstaple Town,Newport (IOW),Merthyr Tydfil andFrome Town.
Those appearing in the competition proper for the first time were Stanley United, Creswell Colliery, Corby Town, Hinckley Athletic, Hounslow Town, Dorchester Town and Frome Town. However, Tunbridge Wells United was featuring at this stage for the first time in their own right after predecessor outfitTunbridge Wells Rangers had last qualified for the main draw in1938–39 and Hyde United was appearing here for the first time since their record-setting 26-0 loss toPreston North End in1887-88.
At this stage the 48 clubs from theFootball League Third Division North andSouth joined the 30non-league clubs who came through the qualifying rounds. The final two non-league sides in the draw,Crook Town andBishop Auckland, were given byes to this round as the champions and runners-up from the previous season'sFA Amateur Cup.
Matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 20 November 1954. Seven were drawn and went to replays, with one of these going to a second replay.
The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 11 December 1954. Four matches were drawn, with replays taking place later the same week.
The 44First andSecond Division clubs entered the competition at this stage. The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 8 January 1955. Ten matches were drawn and went to replays, with three of these requiring a second replay. Notable is tie no. 3, between Bury and Stoke City, which went tofour replays before Stoke won in the final game, with an aggregated score of 9–10.
The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 29 January 1955. Four matches were drawn and went to replays, which were all played in the following midweek match. Once again there was a tie which went to four replays, this one being between Doncaster Rovers and Aston Villa. Rovers finally won the fixture in the fifth match with an aggregated score of 6–4.
Bishop Auckland was the last non-league club left in the competition.
The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 19 February 1955. Two matches went to replays in the following mid-week fixture, with the Nottingham Forest–Newcastle United match requiring a second replay to settle it in favour of United.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 0–2 | Huddersfield Town | 19 February 1955 |
| 2 | Notts County | 1–0 | Chelsea | 19 February 1955 |
| 3 | Nottingham Forest | 1–1 | Newcastle United | 19 February 1955 |
| Replay | Newcastle United | 2–2 | Nottingham Forest | 28 February 1955 |
| Replay | Newcastle United | 2–1 | Nottingham Forest | 2 March 1955 |
| 4 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 4–1 | Charlton Athletic | 19 February 1955 |
| 5 | Luton Town | 0–2 | Manchester City | 19 February 1955 |
| 6 | Swansea Town | 2–2 | Sunderland | 19 February 1955 |
| Replay | Sunderland | 1–0 | Swansea Town | 23 February 1955 |
| 7 | York City | 3–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 19 February 1955 |
| 8 | Birmingham City | 2–1 | Doncaster Rovers | 19 February 1955 |
The four quarter-final ties were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 12 March 1955. The Newcastle United–Huddersfield Town game went to a replay before United went through.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Notts County | 0–1 | York City | 12 March 1955 |
| 2 | Sunderland | 2–0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 12 March 1955 |
| 3 | Huddersfield Town | 1–1 | Newcastle United | 12 March 1955 |
| Replay | Newcastle United | 2–0 | Huddersfield Town | 16 March 1955 |
| 4 | Birmingham City | 0–1 | Manchester City | 12 March 1955 |
The semi-final matches were played on Saturday, 26 March 1955, with the Newcastle United–York City match replaying on the 30th. Newcastle and Manchester City won their ties to meet in the final at Wembley.
| Newcastle United | 1–1 | York City |
|---|---|---|
| Keeble | Bottom |
| York City | 0–2 | Newcastle United |
|---|---|---|
| Keeble White |
| Manchester City | 1–0 | Sunderland |
|---|---|---|
| Roy Clarke |
The 1955 FA Cup Final was contested byNewcastle United andManchester City atWembley. Newcastle won 3–1, with goals fromJackie Milburn in the first minute (after 45 seconds, setting a new record in a final at Wembley, which was held until 1997),Bobby Mitchell andGeorge Hannah.Bobby Johnstone scored City's goal.
| Newcastle United | 3–1 | Manchester City |
|---|---|---|
| Milburn Mitchell Hannah | Johnstone |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Newcastle United | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Manchester City |