1913–14 FA Cup

Calendar

The format of the FA Cup for the season had two preliminary rounds, five qualifying rounds, four proper rounds, and the semi-finals and final.

Qualifying rounds

The 12 teams that won through to the main competition from the fifth qualifying round were Football League Second Division club Glossop along with non-league sides Port Vale, South Shields, Southend United, Merthyr Town, Chesterfield, Swansea Town, Chatham, Stoke, Gainsborough Trinity, Norwich City and Gillingham. Although only Merthyr Town and Swansea Town were featuring in the competition proper for the first time, the reconstituted Port Vale was appearing at this stage only seven seasons after the original Burslem Port Vale had resigned from the Football League and folded. Additionally, Chatham was progressing past the qualifying stages for the first time since 1888-89.

Back at the extra preliminary round stage, 92 teams had kicked off the competition in September 1913. The most successful of these were future Football League members Ashington and West Midlands heavyweights Dudley Town, who both reached the fourth qualifying round before going out to Willington and Crewe Alexandra, respectively.

First round proper

38 of the 40 clubs from the First and Second divisions joined the 12 clubs who came through the qualifying rounds. The other two sides, Stockport County and Glossop were entered in the fourth qualifying round, with Stockport going out at that stage to Gainsborough Trinity.

The progression of Merthyr Town and Swansea Town meant that this was the first season since the introduction of FA Cup qualifying rounds that two teams from Wales featured in the first round proper. Their meeting at Vetch Field was the first all-Welsh tie in the main draw of the English Cup competition since Druids faced off against Chirk in the third round of the 1884–85 tournament.

Fourteen Southern League sides were given byes to the first round to bring the total number of teams up to 64. These were:

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32 matches were scheduled to be played on 10 January 1914. Seven matches were drawn and went to replays in the following midweek fixture.

Second round proper

The 16 second-round matches were played on 31 January 1914. One match was drawn, with the replay taking place the following weekend.

Third round proper

The eight third-round matches were scheduled for 21 February 1914. There was one replay, played in the following midweek fixture. Queens Park Rangers beat Birmingham City to qualify for the quarter-finals: the last non-league team to achieve such a feat until Lincoln City in the 2016–17 FA Cup.

Fourth round proper

The four fourth-round matches were scheduled for 7 March 1914. There were two replays, played in the following midweek. One of these, between Manchester City and Sheffield United, went to a second replay, which Sheffield United won.

Semi finals

The semi-final matches were played on 28 March 1914. The Burnley–Sheffield United match went to a replay, which Burnley won, going on to meet Liverpool in the final.

;Replay

Final

Main article: 1914 FA Cup Final

The final was contested by Burnley and Liverpool at Crystal Palace. Burnley won by a single goal, scored by ex-Everton forward Bert Freeman. The game was the last final at Crystal Palace and was played in front of a reigning monarch, George V, for the first time. Neither club had reached the FA Cup Final before.

References

;General

• Official site; fixtures and results service at TheFA.com
• 1913–14 FA Cup at rsssf.com
• 1913–14 FA Cup at soccerbase.com

;Specific

References

1. "Burnley 0 Lincoln City 1: Non-league Imps make FA Cup history with stunning late win at Turf Moor".
2. (18 February 2017). "Burnley 0-1 Lincoln City". BBC.