1919–20 FA Cup


The 1919–20 FA Cup was the 45th season of the world's oldest association football competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, and the first since the cancellation of all football competitions due to the First World War. Aston Villa won the competition, beating Huddersfield Town 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 13 September 1919
Preliminary RoundSaturday 27 September 1919
First Round QualifyingSaturday 11 October 1919
Second Round QualifyingSaturday 25 October 1919
Third Round QualifyingSaturday 8 November 1919
Fourth Round QualifyingSaturday 22 November 1919
Fifth Round QualifyingSaturday 6 December 1919
Sixth Round QualifyingSaturday 20 December 1919
First Round ProperSaturday 10 January 1920
Second Round ProperSaturday 31 January 1920
Third Round ProperSaturday 21 February 1920
Fourth Round ProperSaturday 6 March 1920
Semi-FinalsSaturday 27 March 1920
FinalSaturday 24 April 1920

First round proper

42 of the 44 clubs from the First and Second divisions joined the 12 clubs who came through the qualifying rounds. Two sides, Port Vale and Rotherham County were entered instead at the Sixth Qualifying Round. Rotherham County were newly elected to the Football League due to its expansion in the 1919–20 season, while Port Vale were entered into the League after eight games, following the failure of Leeds City. Port Vale came through the qualifier, while Rotherham went out.
Ten non-league sides were given byes to the First Round to bring the total number of teams up to 64. These were:
32 matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 10 January 1920. Eight matches were drawn and went to replays in the following midweek fixture.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Birmingham2–0Everton10 January 1920
2Blackpool0–0Derby County10 January 1920
ReplayDerby County1–4Blackpool14 January 1920
3Darlington0–0The Wednesday14 January 1920
ReplayThe Wednesday0–2Darlington19 January 1920
4Bury2–0Stoke10 January 1920
5Preston North End3–1Stockport County10 January 1920
6South Shields1–1Liverpool10 January 1920
ReplayLiverpool2–0South Shields14 January 1920
7Southampton0–0West Ham United10 January 1920
ReplayWest Ham United3–1Southampton15 January 1920
8Notts County2–0Millwall10 January 1920
9Blackburn Rovers2–2Wolverhampton Wanderers10 January 1920
ReplayWolverhampton Wanderers1–0Blackburn Rovers15 January 1920
10Aston Villa2–1Queens Park Rangers10 January 1920
11Bolton Wanderers0–1Chelsea10 January 1920
12Grimsby Town1–2Bristol City10 January 1920
13Middlesbrough4–1Lincoln City14 January 1920
14West Bromwich Albion0–1Barnsley10 January 1920
15Sunderland6–2Hull City14 January 1920
16Luton Town2–2Coventry City10 January 1920
ReplayCoventry City0–1Luton Town15 January 1920
17Sheffield United3–0Southend United10 January 1920
18Newcastle United2–0Crystal Palace10 January 1920
19Manchester City4–1Clapton Orient10 January 1920
20Fulham1–2Swindon Town10 January 1920
21Bristol Rovers1–4Tottenham Hotspur10 January 1920
22Plymouth Argyle2–0Reading10 January 1920
23Bradford City2–0Portsmouth17 January 1920
24West Stanley3–1Gillingham17 January 1920
25Castleford Town2–0Hednesford Town10 January 1920
26Bradford Park Avenue3–0Nottingham Forest10 January 1920
27Huddersfield Town5–1Brentford10 January 1920
28Cardiff City2–0Oldham Athletic10 January 1920
29Port Vale0–1Manchester United10 January 1920
30Newport County0–0Leicester City10 January 1920
ReplayLeicester City2–0Newport County15 January 1920
31Arsenal4–2Rochdale10 January 1920
32Thornycrofts 0–0Burnley10 January 1920
ReplayBurnley5–0Thornycrofts 13 January 1920

Second Round Proper

The 16 Second Round matches were played on Saturday, 31 January 1920. One match was drawn, with the replay taking place in the following midweek fixture.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Birmingham4–0Darlington31 January 1920
2Bristol City1–0Arsenal31 January 1920
3Burnley1–1Sunderland31 January 1920
ReplaySunderland2–0Burnley4 February 1920
4Preston North End2–1Blackpool31 January 1920
5Leicester City3–0Manchester City31 January 1920
6Notts County1–0Middlesbrough31 January 1920
7Wolverhampton Wanderers1–2Cardiff City31 January 1920
8Luton Town0–2Liverpool31 January 1920
9Newcastle United0–1Huddersfield Town31 January 1920
10Tottenham Hotspur4–0West Stanley31 January 1920
11West Ham United6–0Bury31 January 1920
12Manchester United1–2Aston Villa31 January 1920
13Plymouth Argyle4–1Barnsley31 January 1920
14Bradford City2–1Sheffield United31 January 1920
15Chelsea4–0Swindon Town31 January 1920
16Bradford Park Avenue3–2Castleford Town31 January 1920

Third round proper

The eight Third Round matches were scheduled for Saturday, 21 February 1920. There were no replays.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Bristol City2–1Cardiff City21 February 1920
2Liverpool2–0Birmingham21 February 1920
3Preston North End0–3Bradford City21 February 1920
4Notts County3–4Bradford Park Avenue21 February 1920
5Aston Villa1–0Sunderland21 February 1920
6Tottenham Hotspur3–0West Ham United21 February 1920
7Chelsea3–0Leicester City21 February 1920
8Huddersfield Town3–1Plymouth Argyle21 February 1920

Fourth round proper

The four Fourth Round matches were scheduled for Saturday, 6 March 1920. There were no replays.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Bristol City2–0Bradford City6 March 1920
2Tottenham Hotspur0–1Aston Villa6 March 1920
3Chelsea4–1Bradford Park Avenue6 March 1920
4Huddersfield Town2–1Liverpool6 March 1920

Semi-Finals

The semi-final matches were played on Saturday, 27 March 1920. Aston Villa and Huddersfield Town won and went on to meet in the final.
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Final

The Final, the first since the end of the First World War, was contested by Aston Villa and Huddersfield at Stamford Bridge. Aston Villa won 1–0, with the goal coming in extra time from Billy Kirton.

Match details