1975–76 FA Cup

Qualifying rounds

Most participating clubs that were not members of the Football League competed in the qualifying rounds to secure one of 28 places available in the first round.

The winners from the fourth qualifying round were Spennymoor United, Rossendale United, Morecambe, Gateshead United, Marine, Winsford United, Macclesfield Town, Grantham, Nuneaton Town, Boston United, Stafford Rangers, Coventry Sporting, AP Leamington, Bedford Town, Romford, Dartford, Bishop's Stortford, Leatherhead, Wycombe Wanderers, Tooting & Mitcham United, Wimbledon, Dover, Wealdstone, Hendon, Walton & Hersham, Sutton United, Weymouth and Yeovil Town.

Coventry Sporting was appearing in the competition proper for the first (and only) time, while Bedford Town was re-appearing at this stage for the first time since 1966–67. Winsford United qualified for the first round for the first time since the 1887-88 tournament, when the club was still known as Over Wanderers.

Tooting & Mitcham United became the first club to participate in eight rounds of one tournament since Gravesend & Northfleet in 1962–63, defeating St Albans City, Stevenage Athletic, Addlestone, Southall & Ealing Borough, Romford, Leatherhead and Swindon Town before going out to Bradford City at Valley Parade.

First round proper

The 48 teams from the Football League Third and Fourth Divisions entered in this round along with the 28 non-league clubs from the qualifying rounds and Matlock Town, Scarborough, Wigan Athletic and Altrincham who were given byes. The first round of games were played on 22 November 1975. Replays were played mainly on the 24th–26th, with second replays performed one or two weeks after.

Second round proper

The second round of games were played on 13 December 1975. Replays took place on the 15th–17th or the 22nd.

Third round proper

Teams from the Football League First and Second Division entered in this round. The third round of games in the FA Cup were mainly played on 3 January 1976, with two matches played two days earlier on New Year's Day. Replays were mainly played midweek over 6–7 January or the week after but one occurred on the 24th instead. Holders West Ham United were eliminated by Liverpool.

Fourth round proper

The fourth round games were mostly played on 28 January 1976, with three replays and a main match on the 27th and 28th. The Sunderland-Hull City match was postponed until 2 February because of bad weather. Tooting & Mitcham United was the last non-league club left in the competition.

Fifth round proper

The fifth set of games took place (except for one game) on 14 February 1976. Three games went to a replay which were played on 17–18 February. The Norwich City–Bradford City match and a second replay of the Bolton Wanderers–Newcastle United match were played on 23 February.

Sixth round proper

The sixth round of FA Cup games were played on 6 March 1976. There was one replay on the 9th.

Semi finals

Peach

Final

Main article: 1976 FA Cup final

15:00 BST

TV coverage

The right to show FA Cup games were, as with Football League matches, shared between the BBC and ITV network. All games were shown in a highlights format, except the Final, which was shown live both on BBC1 & ITV. The BBC football highlights programme Match of the Day would show up to three games and the various ITV regional network stations would cover up to one game and show highlights from other games covered elsewhere on the ITV network. No games from Rounds 1 or 2 were shown. Highlights of replays would be shown on either the BBC or ITV.

One Fifth Round tie that was picked to be shown by ITV was postponed This was Norwich City v Bradford City (Anglia & Yorkshire) This was due to a Flu Outbreak in the Bradford City camp

Third Round BBC West Ham United v Liverpool, Scarborough v Crystal Palace, Queens Park Rangers v Newcastle United, Newcastle United v Queens Park Rangers (Midweek replay), Stoke City v Tottenham Hotspur (Saturday Replay).

ITV Derby County v Everton (ATV & Granada), Tottenham Hotspur v Stoke City (LWT), Leicester City v Sheffield United (Yorkshire out of region)* Other regions showed those three games.*

Fourth Round BBC Coventry City v Newcastle United, Manchester United v Peterborough United.

ITV Derby County v Liverpool (ATV & Granada), Leeds United v Crystal Palace (Yorkshire), Norwich City v Luton Town (Anglia), Charlton Athletic v Portsmouth (LWT & Southern), Stoke City v Manchester City (Midweek All regions).

Fifth Round BBC Chelsea v Crystal Palace, Bolton Wanderers v Newcastle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers v Charlton Athletic, Newcastle United v Bolton Wanderers (Midweek Both replays).

ITV Leicester City v Manchester United (ATV & Granada), Stoke City v Sunderland (Tyne-Tees Out of region), Derby County v Southend United (Anglia & LWT Out of Region).

Sixth Round BBC Derby County v Newcastle United, Bradford City v Southampton.

ITV Sunderland v Crystal Palace (Tyne-Tees & LWT), Manchester United v Wolverhampton Wanderers (Granada & ATV), Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester United (Midweek replay All regions).

Semi-Finals BBC Derby County v Manchester United.

ITV Crystal Palace v Southampton (All regions).

Final Manchester United v Southampton covered Live by BBC & ITV.

References

• FA Cup Results Archive