The 1921–22 FA Cup was the 47th season of the world's oldest football knockout competition; the Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup for short.
The qualifying phase of the competition comprised eight rounds: an extra preliminary, preliminary and six sequentially numbered qualifying rounds. Twelve clubs won through to the first round proper draw from the 598 clubs who played in the qualifying rounds (including forty-eight in total who joined in qualifying rounds four and five).
Rounds: draw information
For each successive round a draw was made pairing two teams for each tie. The default venue was the stadium of first of the two teams drawn; agreement was required from the FA to switch the venue; the FA could order a venue change if the appointed stadium was unsuitable. For matches where scores were level after ninety minutes a replay was arranged at the stadium of the team initially drawn as the away team; a thirty-minute extra time period was played if the scores were level after ninety minutes. If the replayed match was drawn further replays, with extra time if necessary, were held at neutral venues until a winner was determined.
Initially and through to the third qualifying round the draw was arranged into twenty-four geographic based divisions. As a large number of clubs entered the tournament from lower down the English football league system the competition started with an extra preliminary and preliminary rounds prior to the first qualifying round; matches were played in the divisions until the third qualifying round. For qualifying rounds four and five, stronger non-League and lower division Football League clubs were added to the draw. The final, sixth qualifying round, stage did not add any additional clubs to the draw and produced twelve clubs (from the 598 who contested the qualifying phase) to proceed to the first round proper.
Round Draw Date Date Played Teams from Previous Round Additional Teams Total Teams Ties PlayedExtra preliminary round 17 June 1921 10 September 1921 – 342 342 171Preliminary round 24 September 1921 171 203 374 187First qualifying round 8 October 1921 187 5 192 96Second qualifying round 11 October 1921 22 October 1921 96 0 96 48Third qualifying round 26 October 1921 5 November 1921 48 0 48 24Fourth qualifying round 7 November 1921 19 November 1921 24 24 48 24Fifth qualifying round 21 November 1921 3 December 1921 24 24 48 24Sixth qualifying round 5 December 1921 17 December 1921 24 0 24 12
Key to notes and abbreviations in the following tablesTie Restaged – Restaged match (after original being abandoned) Replay – Replay (after first match being a draw) Replay 2; Replay 3 – Second replay; Third replay (usually played on a neutral ground) Notes aband. – Match abandoned (with score shown in brackets) aet – Match result after extra time played void – Result voided (with score shown in brackets), reason as indicated § – In the draw the away team were drawn as the home team † – Win awarded. W: progressing club; x: eliminated club. Reason as indicated
Extra preliminary to third qualifying round The five rounds from the extra preliminary to the third qualifying involved 550 clubs from England and Wales. These were arranged into 24 geographically based divisions which thereby created matches against local rival clubs and limited the travelling required. Through a series of knock-out matches one team from each division progressed to the fourth qualifying round.
The number of clubs in each division varied: there were thirty-two clubs in divisions 8, 11 and 24 who all therefore played in the extra preliminary round, but only thirteen clubs in division 16 which commenced at the preliminary round with three clubs receiving byes into the first qualifying round.
Division 1 (Northumberland / Tyneside / Wearside) The division comprised 21 teams, of which 10 were drawn into the extra preliminary round to reduce the number to 16 teams required for 8 preliminary round ties.
The Gateshead based Close Works club, members of the Northern Alliance, progressed from the division to the fourth qualifying round.
TieHome teamScoreAway teamNoteExtra preliminary roundClose Works2–1Walker CelticFelling Colliery1–0Pandon TemperanceNewbiggin Athletic – Spen Black & WhiteReplaySpen Black & White1–0Newbiggin AthleticPreston Colliery1–0KibblesworthSt Anthony's Institute0–1Prudhoe CastlePreliminary roundBedlington United2–1Spen Black & WhiteClose Works1–0St Peters AlbionChopwell Institute1–0MickleyFelling Colliery1–1NewburnReplayNewburn1–5Felling CollieryJarrow3–0ScotswoodPrudhoe Castle 0–0Preston Colliery ReplayPreston Colliery3–1Prudhoe CastleSeaton Delaval4–0Lintz InstituteWallsend BC3–1Usworth CollieryFirst qualifying roundClose Works2–0Chopwell InstituteFelling Colliery3–1Preston Colliery Jarrow1–0Bedlington UnitedSeaton Delaval0–1Wallsend BCSecond qualifying roundFelling Colliery0–2 JarrowWallsend BC1–1Close Works§ReplayWallsend BC1–1Close WorksaetReplay 2Wallsend BC1–2Close Worksaet@WallsendThird qualifying round Jarrow2–2Close WorksReplay Close Works3–2Jarrowaet
Division 2 (County Durham / Tyneside / Wearside) The division comprised 18 teams, of which 4 were drawn into the extra preliminary round to reduce the number to 16 teams required for 8 preliminary round ties.
Esh Winning, members of the Northern League, progressed from the division to the fourth qualifying round.
TieHome teamScoreAway teamNoteExtra preliminary roundChester-le-Street3–0White-le-Head Rangers§Seaham CW3–0Langley ParkPreliminary roundBirtley1–1Spennymoor UnitedReplaySpennymoor United1–2BirtleyChester-le-Street2–0Consett Celtic Craghead United1–0Wingate Albion ComradesEsh Winning1–0Horden AthleticHoughton2–3Hobson WanderersSeaham CW1–1Dipton UnitedReplayDipton United0–3Seaham CW Seaham Harbour2–0Annfield PlainSunderland West End1–0Twizell United First qualifying roundChester-le-Street2–0Sunderland West EndCraghead United1–2Esh Winning Seaham CW0–0Hobson Wanderers ReplayHobson Wanderers 0–0Seaham CWExtra timenot playedReplay 2Hobson Wanderers 3–1Seaham CWaetSeaham Harbour2–1BirtleySecond qualifying roundChester-le-Street2–2Esh WinningReplayEsh Winning1–0Chester-le-StreetaetHobson WanderersSeaham Harbouraband. RestagedHobson Wanderers0–1Seaham HarbourThird qualifying roundSeaham Harbour1–1Esh WinningReplayEsh Winning6–1Seaham Harbour
Division 3 (County Durham / North Yorkshire / East Riding of Yorkshire) The division comprised 22 teams, of which 12 were drawn into the extra preliminary round to reduce the number to 16 teams required for 8 preliminary round ties.
Shildon Athletic, members of the North Eastern League, progressed from the division to the fourth qualifying round. They progressed to the sixth qualifying round where they were eliminated by Brentford – they reached the furthest stage of any club who played in the extra preliminary round.
TieHome teamScoreAway teamNoteExtra preliminary roundBridlington Town6–0Staithes UnitedHaverton Hill0–1Rise CarrGuisborough Belmont Athletic0–2RedcarShildon Athletic2–0Cockfield§South Bank5–1Grangetown St Mary's§Coundon United1–2WillingtonPreliminary roundBridlington Town3–0BrottonDarlington Rlwy Athletic0–0Crook TownReplayCrook Town3–1Darlington Rlwy AthleticFiley0–1ScarboroughRedcar0–4Loftus AlbionShildon Athletic5–0Tow Law TownSouth Bank East End1–0South BankStockton2–1Stanley UnitedWillington4–1Rise CarrFirst qualifying roundBridlington Town1–1ScarboroughReplayScarborough2–0Bridlington TownCrook Town9–0South Bank East EndStockton1–0Loftus AlbionWillington0–1Shildon AthleticSecond qualifying roundCrook Town1–1Shildon AthleticReplayShildon Athletic4–0Crook TownStockton5–3ScarboroughThird qualifying roundShildon Athletic3–1Stockton
Division 4 (Cumbria) The division comprised 21 teams, of which 10 were drawn into the extra preliminary round to reduce the number to 16 teams required for 8 preliminary round ties.
Carlisle United, members of the North Eastern League, progressed from the division to the fourth qualifying round.
TieHome teamScoreAway teamNoteExtra preliminary roundBowthorn Recreation0–3Workington DS&S Whitehaven Athletic0–2Kells White StarWhitehaven CR1–0Workington AFCWigton Harriers1–0EgremontWindermere2–4Moor Row Villa RoversPreliminary roundAppleby2–2Cleator Moor CelticReplayCleator Moor CelticW–xAppleby (scratched)†Arlecdon Red Rose3–0Kells White StarCarlisle United5–0Vickerstown§Parton Athletic1–3Wath Brow UnitedPenrith2–0Frizington AthleticUlverston0–1Moor Row Villa RoversWhitehaven CR2–2Dalton Casuals§ReplayWhitehaven CR3–0Dalton CasualsWorkington DS&S3–3Wigton HarriersReplayWigton Harriers2–3Workington DS&SFirst qualifying roundArlecdon Red Rose4–1Workington DS&SCarlisle United6–1PenrithMoor Row Villa Rovers3–0Wath Brow UnitedWhitehaven CR0–3Cleator Moor Celtic Second qualifying roundCarlisle United8–0Arlecdon Red RoseCleator Moor Celtic3–0Moor Row Villa RoversThird qualifying roundCarlisle United2–0Cleator Moor Celtic
Division 5 (Lancashire / West Riding of Yorkshire border) The division comprised 15 teams from which 7 preliminary round ties with drawn, resulting in a bye to the first qualifying round for Lancaster Town (members of the Lancashire Combination) who progressed from the division. In both the fourth and fifth qualifying rounds they defeated Third Division North clubs (Barrow and Stockport County respectively) before being eliminated in the sixth qualifying round by Third Division South club Northampton Town.
TieHome teamScoreAway teamNotePreliminary roundBurscough Rangers1–1ChorleyReplayChorley4–2Burscough RangersFleetwood3–0Dick, Kerr's§Great Harwood2–3DarwenLeyland4–3Breightmet United§Morecambe0–0Horwich RMIReplay Horwich RMI2–1MorecambeRossendale United6–1CornholmeSkelmersdale United1–0Portsmouth RoversFirst qualifying roundChorley0–1FleetwoodDarwen5–2Rossendale UnitedHorwich RMI1–5Lancaster TownLeyland2–0Skelmersdale UnitedSecond qualifying roundFleetwood2–1DarwenLancaster Town2–0LeylandThird qualifying roundLancaster Town2–1Fleetwood
Division 6 (Lancashire / Cheshire / Derbyshire) The division comprised 21 teams, of which 10 were drawn into the extra preliminary round to reduce the number to 16 teams required for 8 preliminary round ties.
Altrincham, members of the Cheshire County League, progressed from the division to the fourth qualifying round.
TieHome teamScoreAway teamNoteExtra preliminary roundGlossop1–4Atherton F.C.New Brighton3–5Whiston ParishNorth Liverpool3–1Marlborough Old BoysRuncorn3–2Old XaveriansYoulgreave1–1Chapel-en-le-FrithReplayChapel-en-le-Frith1–1YoulgreaveReplay 2Youlgreave1–5Chapel-en-le-FrithPreliminary roundAltrincham8–0North LiverpoolAtherton F.C.7–0Buxton Chapel-en-le-Frith3–2MarineEccles United9–0Prescot Wire WorksHurst1–0PrescotMonks HallW–xCongleton Town (scratched)†Runcorn2–0Garston GasworksWhiston Parish2–2Sandbach RamblersReplaySandbach Ramblers1–1Whiston ParishExtra timenot playedReplay 2Whiston Parish1–1Sandbach Ramblersaet@ CreweReplay 3Whiston ParishW–xSandbach Ramblers(Unable to raise a team)†First qualifying roundAtherton F.C.2–4Whiston ParishHurst0–1Eccles UnitedMonks Hall0–1AltrinchamRuncorn4–1Chapel-en-le-FrithSecond qualifying roundAltrincham4–1Eccles UnitedWhiston Parish0–1RuncornThird qualifying roundRuncorn1–3Altrincham
Division 7 (Cheshire / North Shropshire / North Wales) The division comprised 17 teams, of which 2 were drawn into the extra preliminary round to reduce the number to 16 teams required for 8 preliminary round ties.
Chester, members of the Cheshire County League, progressed from the division to the fourth qualifying round.