1921–22 FA Cup

The 1921–22 FA Cup was the 47th season of the world's oldest association football competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup (more usually known as the FA Cup). Huddersfield Town won the competition, beating Preston North End 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.

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.

As generally expected, the Football League added another 20 teams to the Third Division this season and split that competition into separate North and South components. 18 of the new clubs joined Grimsby Town and the relegated Stockport County in the northern section, while Aberdare Athletic and Charlton Athletic joined those remaining (minus the promoted Crystal Palace) in the south. This significant expansion of the Football League meant that 31 of its clubs would be entering the FA Cup in the qualifying rounds.

In the end, the 11 League sides winning through to the first round proper from the sixth qualifying round were Darlington, Walsall, Newport County, Brentford, Norwich City, Gillingham, Southport, Ashington, Northampton Town, Swansea Town and Grimsby Town. Although they had entered the Cup sporadically since 1888–89, Ashington was appearing in the main competition for the first time.

The only non-league club to progress from the qualifiers was Worksop Town.

North Eastern League side Shildon was the most successful of the 328 clubs entered in the extra preliminary round this season. Enjoying victories over traditional powerhouse outfits from their region in Tow Law Town, Crook Town, Blyth Spartans and Bishop Auckland, the Railwaymen progressed to the sixth qualifying round before being knocked out of the tournament by Brentford.

The 12 qualifiers and 41 of 44 First and Second Division League clubs joined the competition in this round. First Division side Birmingham famously had their entry rejected after they failed to submit the relevant paperwork,^[1] while Coventry City and Rotherham County from the Second Division were entered in the fifth qualifying round, but drawn against each other, with Coventry emerging victorious.

Of the Third South clubs, Aberdare Athletic and Charlton Athletic were entered in the extra preliminary round (although Charlton did not play), while nine sides (Brentford, Bristol Rovers, Exeter City, Gllingham, Merthyr Town, Newport County, Northampton Town, Norwich City and Swansea Town) were entered in the fifth qualifying round. The eleven others were given byes to the first round proper. These were:

• Watford
• Brighton & Hove Albion
• Luton Town
• Swindon Town
• Queens Park Rangers
• Millwall
• Plymouth Argyle
• Southampton
• Portsmouth
• Southend United
• Reading

Of the Third North clubs, Halifax Town and Wigan Borough took no part in the competition. Eight sides (Accrington Stanley, Ashington, Barrow, Chesterfield, Crewe Alexandra, Tranmere Rovers, Walsall and Wrexham) were entered in the fourth qualifying round with the rest joining in the fifth qualifying round.

32 matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 7 January 1922. Eleven matches were drawn and went to replays in the following midweek fixture, of which one went to another replay.

The 16 Second Round matches were played on Saturday, 28 January 1922. Five matches were drawn, with replays taking place in the following midweek fixture. One of these, the Bradford City–Notts County match, went to a second replay.

The eight Third Round matches were scheduled for Saturday, 18 February 1922. Four matches were drawn and went to replays in the following midweek fixture.

The four Fourth round matches were scheduled for Saturday, 4 March 1922. There were three replays, each played in the following midweek fixture.

The semi-final matches were played on Saturday, 25 March 1922. The matches ended in victories for Preston North End and Huddersfield Town, who went on to meet in the final at Wembley.

The Final was contested by Huddersfield Town and Preston North End at Stamford Bridge. Huddersfield won by a single goal, a penalty scored by Billy Smith.

29 April 1922

15:00 BST

Huddersfield Town	1 – 0	Preston North End
Smith 67' (pen)	Report

Stamford Bridge, London

Attendance: 53,000

Referee: J. W. P. Fowler

Huddersfield Town

Preston North End

• FA Cup Final Results 1872-

General

• Official site; fixtures and results service at TheFA.com
• 1921-22 FA Cup at rsssf.com
• 1921-22 FA Cup at soccerbase.com

Specific