1972–73 FA Cup
The 1972–73 FA Cup was the 92nd season of the world's oldest football cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup. Second Division Sunderland won the competition for the second time, beating Leeds United 1–0 in the final at Wembley, London with a goal from Ian Porterfield.
Country | England Wales |
---|---|
Defending champions | Leeds United |
Champions | Sunderland (2nd title) |
Runners-up | Leeds United |
Third place | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
Fourth place | Arsenal |
← 1971–72 1973–74 → |
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
Round | Date |
---|---|
Preliminary Round | Saturday 2 September 1972 |
First Round Qualifying | Saturday 16 September 1972 |
Second Round Qualifying | Saturday 7 October 1972 |
Third Round Qualifying | Saturday 21 October 1972 |
Fourth Round Qualifying | Saturday 4 November 1972 |
First Round Proper | Saturday 18 November 1972 |
Second Round Proper | Saturday 9 December 1972 |
Third Round Proper | Saturday 13 January 1973 |
Fourth Round Proper | Saturday 3 February 1973 |
Fifth Round Proper | Saturday 24 February 1973 |
Sixth Round Proper | Saturday 17 March 1973 |
Semi-Finals | Saturday 7 April 1973 |
Final | Saturday 5 May 1973 |
Results
First Round Proper
At this stage clubs from the Football League Third and Fourth Divisions joined those non-league clubs having come through the qualifying rounds. Matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 18 November 1972. Nine matches were drawn, of which one went to a second replay.
Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Enfield | 1–1 | Bishop's Stortford | 18 November 1972 |
Replay | Bishop's Stortford | 1–0 | Enfield | 21 November 1972 |
2 | Chesterfield | 4–2 | Rhyl | 18 November 1972 |
3 | Darlington | 1–1 | Wrexham | 18 November 1972 |
Replay | Wrexham | 5–0 | Darlington | 22 November 1972 |
4 | Hartlepool | 0–0 | Scunthorpe United | 18 November 1972 |
Replay | Scunthorpe United | 0–0 | Hartlepool | 21 November 1972 |
Replay | Hartlepool | 1–2 | Scunthorpe United | 27 November 1972 |
5 | Bournemouth | 5–1 | Cambridge United | 18 November 1972 |
6 | Banbury United | 0–2 | Barnet | 18 November 1972 |
7 | Rochdale | 1–2 | Bangor City | 18 November 1972 |
8 | Tonbridge | 0–5 | Charlton Athletic | 18 November 1972 |
9 | Watford | 4–2 | Guildford City | 18 November 1972 |
10 | Yeovil Town | 2–1 | Brentford | 18 November 1972 |
11 | Walsall | 3–3 | Kettering Town | 18 November 1972 |
Replay | Kettering Town | 1–2 | Walsall | 22 November 1972 |
12 | Gillingham | 1–2 | Reading | 18 November 1972 |
13 | Bolton Wanderers | 1–1 | Chester | 18 November 1972 |
Replay | Chester | 0–1 | Bolton Wanderers | 22 November 1972 |
14 | Grimsby Town | 2–1 | Wigan Athletic | 18 November 1972 |
15 | Crewe Alexandra | 1–0 | Stafford Rangers | 18 November 1972 |
16 | Lincoln City | 2–2 | Blackburn Rovers | 18 November 1972 |
Replay | Blackburn Rovers | 4–1 | Lincoln City | 27 November 1972 |
17 | Doncaster Rovers | 3–1 | Bury | 18 November 1972 |
18 | Stockport County | 1–0 | Workington | 18 November 1972 |
19 | Barnsley | 1–1 | Halifax Town | 18 November 1972 |
Replay | Halifax Town | 2–1 | Barnsley | 21 November 1972 |
20 | South Liverpool | 0–2 | Tranmere Rovers | 18 November 1972 |
21 | Plymouth Argyle | 1–0 | Hendon | 18 November 1972 |
22 | Bradford City | 3–0 | Grantham | 18 November 1972 |
23 | Oldham Athletic | 1–1 | Scarborough | 18 November 1972 |
Replay | Scarborough | 2–1 | Oldham Athletic | 22 November 1972 |
24 | Spennymoor United | 1–1 | Shrewsbury Town | 18 November 1972 |
Replay | Shrewsbury Town | 3–1 | Spennymoor United | 21 November 1972 |
25 | Altrincham | 0–1 | Notts County | 18 November 1972 |
26 | Southend United | 0–2 | Aldershot | 18 November 1972 |
27 | Port Vale | 2–1 | Southport | 18 November 1972 |
28 | Newport County | 5–1 | Alton Town | 18 November 1972 |
29 | Margate | 1–0 | Swansea City | 18 November 1972 |
30 | Torquay United | 3–0 | Hereford United | 18 November 1972 |
31 | York City | 2–1 | Mansfield Town | 18 November 1972 |
32 | Rotherham United | 4–0 | South Shields | 18 November 1972 |
33 | Hayes | 1–0 | Bristol Rovers | 18 November 1972 |
34 | Boston United | 1–2 | Lancaster City | 18 November 1972 |
35 | Peterborough United | 1–0 | Northampton Town | 18 November 1972 |
36 | Colchester United | 6–0 | Bognor Regis Town | 18 November 1972 |
37 | Chelmsford City | 2–0 | Hillingdon Borough | 18 November 1972 |
38 | Walton & Hersham | 2–1 | Exeter City | 18 November 1972 |
39 | Barnstaple Town | 0–2 | Bilston | 18 November 1972 |
40 | Telford United | 3–2 | Nuneaton Borough | 18 November 1972 |
Second Round Proper
The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 9 December 1972, with the exception of the Walsall–Charlton Athletic game which was played three days later. Five matches were drawn, with replays taking place later the same week.
Third Round Proper
The 44 First and Second Division clubs entered the competition at this stage. The matches were scheduled Saturday, 13 January 1973, with the exception of the Reading–Doncaster Rovers game, which was played on the following Wednesday. Eleven matches were drawn, of which two required a second replay.
Fourth Round Proper
The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 3 February 1973. Five matches were drawn, of which two required a second replay.
Fifth Round Proper
The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 24 February 1973 with one replay played three days later.
Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sheffield Wednesday | 1–2 | Chelsea | 24 February 1973 |
2 | Bolton Wanderers | 0–1 | Luton Town | 24 February 1973 |
3 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–0 | Millwall | 24 February 1973 |
4 | Derby County | 4–2 | Queens Park Rangers | 24 February 1973 |
5 | Manchester City | 2–2 | Sunderland | 24 February 1973 |
Replay | Sunderland | 3–1 | Manchester City | 27 February 1973 |
6 | Coventry City | 3–0 | Hull City | 24 February 1973 |
7 | Carlisle United | 1–2 | Arsenal | 24 February 1973 |
8 | Leeds United | 2–0 | West Bromwich Albion | 24 February 1973 |
Sixth Round Proper
The four quarter-final ties were played on the 17 March 1973. There was one replay three days later.
Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–0 | Coventry City | 17 March 1973 |
2 | Sunderland | 2–0 | Luton Town | 17 March 1973 |
3 | Derby County | 0–1 | Leeds United | 17 March 1973 |
4 | Chelsea | 2–2 | Arsenal | 17 March 1973 |
Replay | Arsenal | 2–1 | Chelsea | 20 March 1973 |
Semi-finals
The semi-final matches were played on Saturday, 7 April 1973 with no replays being needed. Sunderland and Leeds United won their respective matches to go on to the final at Wembley.
Third place playoff
Between 1970 and 1974, a third place playoff between the two losing semi-finalists was held.[1]
Arsenal | 1–3 | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
---|---|---|
Hornsby | McCalliog Dougan |
Final
The final took place on Saturday, 5 May 1973 at Wembley and ended in a victory for Sunderland over Leeds United by one goal to nil. The attendance was 100,000.
Leeds United | 0 – 1 | Sunderland |
---|---|---|
Porterfield 31' |
Leeds United
|
Sunderland
|
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. Hiighlights of replays would be shown on either the BBC or ITV. Third Round BBC Arsenal v Leicester City, Norwich City v Leeds United, Orient v Coventry City, Leicester v Arsenal (Midweek replay) ITV Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea (Southern & LWT), Chelmsford City v Ipswich Town (Anglia), Manchester City v Stoke City (Granada), Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester United (ATV), Newcastle United v AFC Bournemouth (Tyne-Tees), Sheffield Wednesday v Fulham (Yorkshire) Fourth Round BBC Newcastle United v Luton Town, Liverpool v Manchester City, Sheffield Wednesday v Crystal Palace ITV Chelsea v Ipswich Town (LWT), Everton v Millwall (Granada), Derby County v Tottenham Hotspur(ATV), Hull City v West Ham United (Anglia & Yorkshire), Sunderland v Reading (Tyne-Tees), Manchester City v Liverpool (Midweek replay All Regions) Fifth Round BBC Carlisle United v Arsenal, Wolverhampton Wanderers v Millwall, Derby County v Queens Park Rangers ITV Manchester City v Sunderland (Granada & Tyne-Tees), Sheffield Wednesday v Chelsea (Yorkshire & LWT), Coventry City v Hull City (ATV & Anglia), Sunderland v Manchester City (Midweek replay All Regions) Sixth Round BBC Chelsea v Arsenal, Sunderland v Luton Town ITV Derby County v Leeds United (All regions, LWT covered it), Wolverhampton Wanderers v Coventry City (ATV) Semi-Finals BBC Leeds United v Wolverhampton Wanderers ITV Arsenal v Sunderland (All Regions)Final Leeds United v Sunderland Shown Live on BBC & ITV
References
- General
- The FA Cup Archive at TheFA.com
- English FA Cup 1972–73 at Soccerbase
- FA Cup results 1972–73 at Footballsite
- Specific
- The annual ENGLAND v YOUNG ENGLAND fixture is replaced by an F.A. Cup match - the 3rd and 4th Place Play-Off. Archived 2019-04-27 at the Wayback Machine, Football Site.