1938–39 FA Cup

1938–39 FA Cup
Tournament details
CountryEngland
Wales
Defending championsPreston North End
Final positions
ChampionsPortsmouth (1st title)
Runner-upWolverhampton Wanderers

The 1938–39 FA Cup was the 64th season of the world's oldest football cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup. Portsmouth won the competition for the first time, beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 4–1 in the final at Wembley. As this was the last full FA Cup competition before the Second World War, Portsmouth held the trophy until the end of the 1945–46 season.

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

[edit]
Round Date
Extra preliminary round Saturday 3 September 1938
Preliminary round Saturday 17 September 1938
First round qualifying Saturday 1 October 1938
Second round qualifying Saturday 15 October 1938
Third round qualifying Saturday 29 October 1938
Fourth round qualifying Saturday 12 November 1938
First round proper Saturday 26 November 1938
Second round proper Saturday 10 December 1938
Third round proper Saturday 7 January 1939
Fourth round proper Saturday 21 January 1939
Fifth round proper Saturday 11 February 1939
Sixth round proper Saturday 4 March 1939
Semi-Finals Saturday 25 March 1939
Final Saturday 29 April 1939

First round proper

[edit]

At this stage, 41 clubs from the Football League Third Division North and South joined the 25 non-league clubs having come through the qualifying rounds. Barnsley, York City and Notts County were given a bye to the third round. To make the number of matches up, non-league Scarborough and Bromley were given byes to this round. 34 matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 26 November 1938. Eight were drawn and went to replays in the following midweek fixture.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Chester 3–1 Bradford City 26 November 1938
2 Darlington 4–0 Stalybridge Celtic 26 November 1938
3 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 2–1 Bristol City 26 November 1938
4 Watford 4–1 Northampton Town 26 November 1938
5 Reading 3–3 Newport County 26 November 1938
Replay Newport County 3–1 Reading 5 December 1938
6 Walsall 4–1 Carlisle United 26 November 1938
7 Folkestone 2–1 Colchester United 26 November 1938
8 Lincoln City 4–1 Barrow 26 November 1938
9 Gainsborough Trinity 2–1 Gateshead 26 November 1938
10 Swindon Town 6–0 Lowestoft Town 26 November 1938
11 Scarborough 0–0 Southport 26 November 1938
Replay Southport 5–3 Scarborough 29 November 1938
12 Doncaster Rovers 4–2 New Brighton 26 November 1938
13 Wrexham 1–2 Port Vale 26 November 1938
14 Ipswich Town 7–0 Street 26 November 1938
15 Bristol Rovers 4–1 Peterborough United 26 November 1938
16 Bromley 2–1 Apsley 26 November 1938
17 Hull City 4–1 Rotherham United 26 November 1938
18 Clapton Orient 3–1 Hayes 26 November 1938
19 Oldham Athletic 2–2 Crewe Alexandra 26 November 1938
Replay Crewe Alexandra 1–0 Oldham Athletic 30 November 1938
20 Crystal Palace 1–1 Queens Park Rangers 26 November 1938
Replay Queens Park Rangers 3–0 Crystal Palace 28 November 1938
21 Southend United 3–0 Corinthian 26 November 1938
22 Hartlepools United 2–1 Accrington Stanley 26 November 1938
23 Scunthorpe United 4–2 Lancaster City 26 November 1938
24 Halifax Town 7–3 Rochdale 26 November 1938
25 Cheltenham Town 1–1 Cardiff City 26 November 1938
Replay Cardiff City 1–0 Cheltenham Town 30 November 1938
26 Yeovil & Petter's United 2–1 Brighton & Hove Albion 26 November 1938
27 Runcorn 3–0 Wellington Town 26 November 1938
28 Torquay United 3–1 Exeter City 26 November 1938
29 Workington 1–1 Mansfield Town 26 November 1938
Replay Mansfield Town 2–1 Workington 30 November 1938
30 Walthamstow Avenue 4–1 Tunbridge Wells Rangers 26 November 1938
31 Aldershot 1–1 Guildford City 26 November 1938
Replay Guildford City 3–4 Aldershot 30 November 1938
32 Horden CW 1–1 Chorley 26 November 1938
Replay Chorley 1–2 Horden CW 30 November 1938
33 North Shields 1–4 Stockport County 26 November 1938
34 Chelmsford City 4–0 Kidderminster Harriers 26 November 1938

Second round proper

[edit]

The matches were played on Saturday, 10 December 1938. Four matches were drawn, with replays taking place in the following midweek fixture. One of these, Halifax Town vs. Mansfield Town, then went to two more replays before being settled.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Chester 2–2 Hull City 10 December 1938
Replay Hull City 0–1 Chester 15 December 1938
2 Walsall 4–2 Clapton Orient 10 December 1938
3 Folkestone 1–1 Yeovil & Petter's United 10 December 1938
Replay Yeovil & Petter's United 1–0 Folkestone 15 December 1938
4 Lincoln City 8–1 Bromley 10 December 1938
5 Gainsborough Trinity 0–1 Doncaster Rovers 10 December 1938
6 Ipswich Town 4–1 Torquay United 10 December 1938
7 Stockport County 0–0 Walthamstow Avenue 10 December 1938
Replay Walthamstow Avenue 1–3 Stockport County 15 December 1938
8 Bristol Rovers 0–3 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 10 December 1938
9 Hartlepools United 0–2 Queens Park Rangers 10 December 1938
10 Scunthorpe United 1–2 Watford 10 December 1938
11 Cardiff City 1–0 Crewe Alexandra 10 December 1938
12 Port Vale 0–1 Southend United 10 December 1938
13 Halifax Town 1–1 Mansfield Town 10 December 1938
Replay Mansfield Town 3–3 Halifax Town 14 December 1938
Replay Mansfield Town 0–0 Halifax Town 19 December 1938
Replay Mansfield Town 1–2 Halifax Town 21 December 1938
14 Southport 2–0 Swindon Town 10 December 1938
15 Runcorn 3–1 Aldershot 10 December 1938
16 Horden CW 2–3 Newport County 10 December 1938
17 Chelmsford City 3–1 Darlington 10 December 1938

Third round proper

[edit]

The 44 First and Second Division clubs entered the competition at this stage, along with Barnsley, York City and Notts County. The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 7 January 1939, although seven matches began at later dates. Eight matches were drawn and went to replays, with one of these requiring a second replay to settle the fixture.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Birmingham 2–0 Halifax Town 7 January 1939
2 Blackpool 1–2 Sheffield United 7 January 1939
3 Chester 1–0 Coventry City 7 January 1939
4 Chesterfield 1–1 Southend United 11 January 1939
Replay Southend United 4–3 Chesterfield 16 January 1939
5 Liverpool 3–0 Luton Town 7 January 1939
6 Leicester City 1–1 Stoke City 7 January 1939
Replay Stoke City 1–2 Leicester City 11 January 1939
7 Notts County 3–1 Burnley 7 January 1939
8 Blackburn Rovers 2–0 Swansea Town 7 January 1939
9 Aston Villa 1–1 Ipswich Town 7 January 1939
Replay Ipswich Town 1–2 Aston Villa 11 January 1939
10 Sheffield Wednesday 1–1 Yeovil & Petter's United 7 January 1939
Replay Yeovil & Petter's United 1–2 Sheffield Wednesday 12 January 1939
11 Grimsby Town 6–0 Tranmere Rovers 10 January 1939
12 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–1 Bradford Park Avenue 7 January 1939
13 Middlesbrough 0–0 Bolton Wanderers 7 January 1939
Replay Bolton Wanderers 0–0 Middlesbrough 11 January 1939
Replay Bolton Wanderers 0–1 Middlesbrough 16 January 1939
14 West Bromwich Albion 0–0 Manchester United 7 January 1939
Replay Manchester United 1–5 West Bromwich Albion 11 January 1939
15 Sunderland 3–0 Plymouth Argyle 7 January 1939
16 Derby County 0–1 Everton 7 January 1939
17 Tottenham Hotspur 7–1 Watford 7 January 1939
18 Queens Park Rangers 1–2 West Ham United 7 January 1939
19 Fulham 6–0 Bury 7 January 1939
20 Barnsley 1–2 Stockport County 7 January 1939
21 Brentford 0–2 Newcastle United 7 January 1939
22 Portsmouth 4–0 Lincoln City 7 January 1939
23 Norwich City 0–5 Manchester City 12 January 1939
24 Chelsea 2–1 Arsenal 7 January 1939
25 Huddersfield Town 0–0 Nottingham Forest 11 January 1939
Replay Nottingham Forest 0–3 Huddersfield Town 16 January 1939
26 Cardiff City 1–0 Charlton Athletic 7 January 1939
27 Newport County 0–2 Walsall 7 January 1939
28 Southport 1–1 Doncaster Rovers 10 January 1939
Replay Doncaster Rovers 2–1 Southport 12 January 1939
29 Runcorn 2–4 Preston North End 7 January 1939
30 Leeds United 3–1 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 11 January 1939
31 York City 0–5 Millwall 11 January 1939
32 Chelmsford City 4–1 Southampton 7 January 1939

Fourth round proper

[edit]

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 21 January 1939. Five games were drawn and went to replays, of which two went to a second replay.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Birmingham 6–0 Chelmsford City 21 January 1939
2 Liverpool 5–1 Stockport County 21 January 1939
3 Preston North End 2–0 Aston Villa 21 January 1939
4 Notts County 0–0 Walsall 21 January 1939
Replay Walsall 4–0 Notts County 26 January 1939
5 Blackburn Rovers 4–2 Southend United 21 January 1939
6 Sheffield Wednesday 1–1 Chester 21 January 1939
Replay Chester 1–1 Sheffield Wednesday 25 January 1939
Replay Sheffield Wednesday 2–0 Chester 30 January 1939
7 Wolverhampton Wanderers 5–1 Leicester City 21 January 1939
8 Middlesbrough 0–2 Sunderland 21 January 1939
9 Everton 8–0 Doncaster Rovers 21 January 1939
10 Sheffield United 2–0 Manchester City 21 January 1939
11 Portsmouth 2–0 West Bromwich Albion 21 January 1939
12 West Ham United 3–3 Tottenham Hotspur 21 January 1939
Replay Tottenham Hotspur 1–1 West Ham United 30 January 1939
Replay West Ham United 2–1 Tottenham Hotspur 2 February 1939
13 Millwall 2–2 Grimsby Town 21 January 1939
Replay Grimsby Town 3–2 Millwall 24 January 1939
14 Chelsea 3–0 Fulham 21 January 1939
15 Cardiff City 0–0 Newcastle United 21 January 1939
Replay Newcastle United 4–1 Cardiff City 25 January 1939
16 Leeds United 2–4 Huddersfield Town 21 January 1939

Fifth round proper

[edit]

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 11 February 1939. There were four replays, of which two went to second replays.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Birmingham 2–2 Everton 11 February 1939
Replay Everton 2–1 Birmingham 15 February 1939
2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 4–1 Liverpool 11 February 1939
3 Sunderland 1–1 Blackburn Rovers 11 February 1939
Replay Blackburn Rovers 0–0 Sunderland 16 February 1939
Replay Blackburn Rovers 1–0 Sunderland 20 February 1939
4 Sheffield United 0–0 Grimsby Town 11 February 1939
Replay Grimsby Town 1–0 Sheffield United 14 February 1939
5 Newcastle United 1–2 Preston North End 11 February 1939
6 Portsmouth 2–0 West Ham United 11 February 1939
7 Chelsea 1–1 Sheffield Wednesday 11 February 1939
Replay Sheffield Wednesday 0–0 Chelsea 13 February 1939
Replay Chelsea 3–1 Sheffield Wednesday 20 February 1939
8 Huddersfield Town 3–0 Walsall 11 February 1939

Sixth round proper

[edit]

The four sixth round ties were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 4 March 1939. There was one replay, in the Huddersfield Town–Blackburn Rovers match.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–0 Everton 4 March 1939
2 Portsmouth 1–0 Preston North End 4 March 1939
3 Chelsea 0–1 Grimsby Town 4 March 1939
4 Huddersfield Town 1–1 Blackburn Rovers 4 March 1939
Replay Blackburn Rovers 1–2 Huddersfield Town 9 March 1939

Semi-finals

[edit]

The semi-final matches were played on Saturday, 25 March 1939. Wolverhampton Wanderers and Portsmouth won their matches to meet in the final at Wembley.


Portsmouth2–1Huddersfield Town

Final

[edit]

The 1939 FA Cup Final was contested by Portsmouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Wembley. Portsmouth won 4–1, with goals from Bert Barlow, John Anderson and two by Cliff Parker. Dicky Dorsett scored Wolves' effort.

As a result of the suspension of the FA Cup for the duration of the Second World War, the next FA Cup final was not until seven years later in 1946, thereby enabling Portsmouth fans to claim that their team has held the Cup for the longest time.

Match details

[edit]
Portsmouth4–1Wolverhampton Wanderers
Barlow 29'
Anderson 43'
Parker 46', 71'
Dorsett 54'
Attendance: 99,370
Referee: T. Thompson (Lemington, Newcastle upon Tyne)
Portsmouth
Wolves

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
General
Specific