| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | England Wales |
| Teams | 375 |
| Defending champions | Manchester United |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | West Ham United (1st title) |
| Runners-up | Preston North End |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 459 |
| Goals scored | 1,631 (3.55 per match) |
The1963–64 FA Cup was the 83rd staging of the world's oldestfootballcup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as theFA Cup.West Ham United won the competition for the first time (despite having reached the1923 final), beatingPreston North End 3–2 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 scores were level after 90 minutes had been played in a replay, a 30-minute period ofextra time would be played.
| Round | Date |
|---|---|
| First qualifying round | Saturday 7 September 1963 |
| Second qualifying round | Saturday 21 September 1963 |
| Third qualifying round | Saturday 5 October 1963 |
| Fourth qualifying round | Saturday 19 October 1963 |
| First round proper | Saturday 16 November 1963 |
| Second round | Saturday 7 December 1963 |
| Third round | Saturday 4 January 1964 |
| Fourth round | Saturday 25 January 1964 |
| Fifth round | Saturday 15 February 1964 |
| Sixth round | Saturday 29 February 1964 |
| Semi-finals | Saturday 14 March 1964 |
| Final | Saturday 2 May 1964 |
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 wereCrook Town,Blyth Spartans,Gateshead,Netherfield (Kendal),Bangor City,Altrincham,Chorley,Hereford United,Loughborough United,Kettering Town,Corby Town,Frickley Colliery,Heanor Town,Cambridge United,Bedford Town,Harwich & Parkeston,Chelmsford City,Folkestone Town,Gravesend & Northfleet,Margate,Bexley United,Tooting & Mitcham United,Barnet,Enfield,Maidenhead United,Trowbridge Town,Weymouth,Bridgwater Town,Yeovil Town andBath City.
Bexley United was the only qualifying club appearing in the main competition for the first time, although Corby Town had last featured at this stage in1954-55, Folkestone Town in1951-52, Chorley in1945-46 and Altrincham in1933-34.
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,Wimbledon andSutton United 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, 16 November 1963, although three games were not played until the midweek fixture. Eight were drawn and went to replays.
The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 7 December 1963. Three 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, 4 January 1964. Nine matches were drawn and went to replays, though none of these then resulted in a second replay.
The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 25 January 1964. Eight matches were drawn and went to replays. The replays were all played two, three or four days later.Bedford Town was the last non-league club left in the competition.
The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 15 February 1964. The Stoke City – Swansea Town match went to a replay in the midweek fixture, with Swansea winning the tie.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burnley | 3–0 | Huddersfield Town | 15 February 1964 |
| 2 | Preston North End | 1–0 | Carlisle United | 15 February 1964 |
| 3 | Sunderland | 3–1 | Everton | 15 February 1964 |
| 4 | Swindon Town | 1–3 | West Ham United | 15 February 1964 |
| 5 | Barnsley | 0–4 | Manchester United | 15 February 1964 |
| 6 | Arsenal | 0–1 | Liverpool | 15 February 1964 |
| 7 | Stoke City | 2–2 | Swansea Town | 15 February 1964 |
| Replay | Swansea Town | 2–0 | Stoke City | 18 February 1964 |
| 8 | Oxford United | 3–1 | Blackburn Rovers | 15 February 1964 |
The four quarter-final ties were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 29 February 1964. The Manchester United–Sunderland match went to two replays before the tie was settled, in United's favour. Oxford United was appearing at this stage for the first time in only their second season as a Football League club.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 1–2 | Swansea Town | 29 February 1964 |
| 2 | West Ham United | 3–2 | Burnley | 29 February 1964 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 3–3 | Sunderland | 29 February 1964 |
| Replay | Sunderland | 2–2 | Manchester United | 4 March 1964 |
| Replay | Sunderland | 1–5 | Manchester United | 9 March 1964 |
| 4 | Oxford United | 1–2 | Preston North End | 29 February 1964 |
The semi-final matches were played on Saturday, 14 March 1964 with no replays required. Preston North End and West Ham United came through the semi-final round to meet at Wembley. Swansea Town was featuring in the semi-finals for the first time since1926.
| Preston North End | 2–1 | Swansea Town |
|---|---|---|
Dawson 54' (pen.)Singleton 75' | McLaughlin 44' |
| West Ham United | 3–1 | Manchester United |
|---|---|---|
| Boyce 56',62' Hurst 79' | Law 77' |
The 1964 FA Cup final was contested byPreston North End andWest Ham United atWembley on Saturday, 2 May 1964. The match finished 3–2 to West Ham, with the winning goal being scored in the 90th minute.
| Preston North End | 2–3 | West Ham United |
|---|---|---|
| Holden 10' Dawson 40' | Sissons 11' Hurst 52'Boyce 90' |
      Preston North End | West Ham United |