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| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | England Wales |
| Defending champions | Manchester City |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Chelsea(1st title) |
| Runners-up | Leeds United |
| Third place | Manchester United |
| Fourth place | Watford |
The1969–70 FA Cup was the 89th season of the world's oldestfootballcup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as theFA Cup.First DivisionChelsea won the competition for the first time, first drawing withLeeds United 2–2 inthe final atWembley, before winning 2–1 in the replay atOld Trafford.
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 6 September 1969 |
| First round qualifying | Saturday 20 September 1969 |
| Second round qualifying | Saturday 4 October 1969 |
| Third round qualifying | Saturday 18 October 1969 |
| Fourth round qualifying | Saturday 1 November 1969 |
| First round proper | Saturday 15 November 1969 |
| Second round proper | Saturday 6 December 1969 |
| Third round proper | Saturday 3 January 1970 |
| Fourth round proper | Saturday 24 January 1970 |
| Fifth round proper | Saturday 7 February 1970 |
| Sixth round proper | Saturday 21 February 1970 |
| Semi-finals | Saturday 14 March 1970 |
| Final | Saturday 11 April 1970 |
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 wereSouth Shields,Whitby Town,Spennymoor United,Mossley,Bangor City,Wigan Athletic,Macclesfield Town,Kirkby Town,Grantham,Telford United,Hereford United,Tamworth,Alfreton Town,Kettering Town,Chelmsford City,Oxford City,Brentwood Town,Hendon,Enfield,Hillingdon Borough,Margate,Barnet,Carshalton Athletic,Walton & Hersham,Dagenham,Wimbledon,Cheltenham Town,Weymouth,Yeovil Town andFalmouth Town.
Those appearing in the competition proper for the first time were Whitby Town, Kirkby Town, Alfreton Town and Carshalton Athletic. Of the others, Walton & Hersham had last featured at this stage in1957–58, Hillingdon Borough (known at the time asYiewsley) had last done so in1956-57 and Mossley had last done so in1949-50.
Between 20 September 1969 and 12 January 1970, Hillingdon Borough competed in eleven Cup fixtures while progressing from the first qualifying round to the third round proper. They saw offTooting & Mitcham United (after a replay),Bromley,Tilbury,Dartford (after asecond replay), Wimbledon andLuton Town before going out to Sutton United atGander Green Lane after another replay.
At this stage the 48 clubs from theFootball League Third andFourth Divisions joined the 30non-league clubs who came through the qualifying rounds. The final two non-league sides in the main draw,North Shields andSutton United were given byes to this stage as the champions and runners-up from the previous season'sFA Amateur Cup.
Matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 15 November 1969. Thirteen matches were drawn, of which two went to second replays and one of these to a third.
The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 6 December 1969. Seven matches were drawn, with replays taking place later the same week. Two games needed a second replay, and one of these a third.
The 44First andSecond Division clubs entered the competition at this stage. The matches were scheduled Saturday, 3 January 1970, but three were played at later dates. Nine matches were drawn and went to replays, with York City and Cardiff City requiring a second replay at Birmingham City'sSt Andrew's ground.
The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 24 January 1970. Five matches were drawn, with the replays taking place three or four days later.Sutton United was the last non-league club left in the competition.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blackpool | 0–2 | Mansfield Town | 24 January 1970 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 3–1 | Wrexham | 24 January 1970 |
| 3 | Southampton | 1–1 | Leicester City | 24 January 1970 |
| Replay | Leicester City | 4–2 | Southampton | 28 January 1970 |
| 4 | Sutton United | 0–6 | Leeds United | 24 January 1970 |
| 5 | Watford | 1–0 | Stoke City | 24 January 1970 |
| 6 | Gillingham | 5–1 | Peterborough United | 24 January 1970 |
| 7 | Sheffield Wednesday | 1–2 | Scunthorpe United | 24 January 1970 |
| 8 | Middlesbrough | 4–1 | York City | 24 January 1970 |
| 9 | Derby County | 3–0 | Sheffield United | 24 January 1970 |
| 10 | Swindon Town | 4–2 | Chester | 24 January 1970 |
| 11 | Tranmere Rovers | 0–0 | Northampton Town | 24 January 1970 |
| Replay | Northampton Town | 2–1 | Tranmere Rovers | 27 January 1970 |
| 12 | Tottenham Hotspur | 0–0 | Crystal Palace | 24 January 1970 |
| Replay | Crystal Palace | 1–0 | Tottenham Hotspur | 28 January 1970 |
| 13 | Manchester United | 3–0 | Manchester City | 24 January 1970 |
| 14 | Carlisle United | 2–2 | Aldershot | 24 January 1970 |
| Replay | Aldershot | 1–4 | Carlisle United | 28 January 1970 |
| 15 | Chelsea | 2–2 | Burnley | 24 January 1970 |
| Replay | Burnley | 1–3 | Chelsea | 27 January 1970 |
| 16 | Charlton Athletic | 2–3 | Queens Park Rangers | 24 January 1970 |
The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 7 February 1970, with one replay played four days later.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 0–0 | Leicester City | 7 February 1970 |
| Replay | Leicester City | 0–2 | Liverpool | 11 February 1970 |
| 2 | Watford | 2–1 | Gillingham | 7 February 1970 |
| 3 | Swindon Town | 3–1 | Scunthorpe United | 7 February 1970 |
| 4 | Queens Park Rangers | 1–0 | Derby County | 7 February 1970 |
| 5 | Northampton Town | 2–8 | Manchester United | 7 February 1970 |
| 6 | Carlisle United | 1–2 | Middlesbrough | 7 February 1970 |
| 7 | Crystal Palace | 1–4 | Chelsea | 7 February 1970 |
| 8 | Leeds United | 2–0 | Mansfield Town | 7 February 1970 |
The four quarter-final ties were played on the 21 February 1970. There was one replay on the following Wednesday.
| Middlesbrough | 1 – 1 | Manchester United |
|---|---|---|
Hickton 37' | Sartori 13' |
| Swindon Town | 0 – 2 | Leeds United |
|---|---|---|
| Clarke 32',34' |
Replay
| Manchester United | 2 – 1 | Middlesbrough |
|---|---|---|
| Charlton 26' Morgan 78' (pen.) | Hickton 74' |
The semi-final matches were played on Saturday, 14 March 1970 with the Manchester United–Leeds United tie needing two replays to settle the contest over the following 12 days, with the tie needing 219 minutes to produce a goal. Manchester United were made to pay for missed chances in the first two games, including George Best falling over the ball in the first replay, as Leeds came through in the second replay with a Billy Bremner goal. Chelsea came through the other semi final to meet Leeds at Wembley.
Replay
Second Replay
Between 1970 and 1974, a third place playoff between the two losing semi-finalists was held.[1]
The 1970 FA Cup Final was contested byLeeds United andChelsea atWembley on the 11 April 1970. The match finished as a 2–2 draw afterextra time and so went to a replay. The second final match took place atOld Trafford,Manchester on the 29 April 1970. This match finished 1–1 after 90 minutes, again requiring extra time to be played before Chelsea finished as the victors.
| Chelsea | 2 – 2 (a.e.t.) | Leeds United |
|---|---|---|
| Houseman 41' Hutchinson 86' | Report | Charlton 20' Jones 84' |
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