The 1922–23 FA Cup was the 48th 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 495 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 495 who contested the qualifying phase) to proceed to the first round proper.
Round Date Played Teams from Previous Round Additional Teams Total Teams Ties PlayedExtra preliminary round 9 September 1922 – 150 150 75Preliminary round 23 September 1922 75 285 360 180First qualifying round 7 October 1922 180 12 192 96Second qualifying round 21 October 1922 96 0 96 48Third qualifying round 4 November 1922 48 0 48 24Fourth qualifying round 7 November 1922 24 24 48 24Fifth qualifying round 2 December 1922 24 24 48 24Sixth qualifying round 16 December 1922 24 0 24 12
Key to notes and abbreviations in the following tablesTie Replay – Replay (after first match being a draw) Replay 2' – Second replay (usually played on a neutral ground) Notes 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 447 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 division 8 who all therefore played in the extra preliminary round, but only thirteen clubs in divisions 16 and 17 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 Felling Colliery club, members of the Northern Alliance, who had been the beneficiaries of home draws in each of their four ties (although they had required a replay to win their third qualifying tie), progressed from the division to the fourth qualifying round.
TieHome teamScoreAway teamNoteExtra preliminary roundChopwell Institute3–1 Washington CollieryLeslie's2–3Gateshead TownNewburn0–0Lintz InstituteReplayLintz Institute1–0NewburnSeaton Delaval1–2Bedlington UnitedWalker Celtic1–2ScotswoodPreliminary roundBedlington United4–1Chopwell InstituteFelling Colliery2–0ScotswoodMickley1–1Lintz Institute ReplayLintz Institute1–0MickleyPrudhoe Castle0–0St Peters AlbionReplaySt Peters Albion3–0Prudhoe CastleSpen Black & White5–0KibblesworthSt Anthony's Institute2–0Gateshead TownUsworth Colliery2–1Preston CollieryWallsend BC2–1JarrowFirst qualifying roundFelling Colliery2–0St Peters AlbionSpen Black & WhiteLintz InstitutevoidLintz Institute disqualifiedUsworth Colliery2–0Bedlington UnitedWallsend BC5–0St Anthony's InstituteSecond qualifying roundFelling Colliery2–0Usworth CollierySpen Black & White1–0Wallsend BCThird qualifying roundFelling Colliery0–0Spen Black & WhiteReplay Spen Black & White0–1Felling Colliery
Division 2 (County Durham / Tyneside / Wearside) The division comprised 23 teams, of which 14 were drawn into the extra preliminary round to reduce the number to 16 teams required for 8 preliminary round ties.
West Stanley, members of the North Eastern League, progressed from the division to the fourth qualifying round.
TieHome teamScoreAway teamNoteExtra preliminary roundAnnfield Plain0–0White-le-Head RangersReplayWhite-le-Head Rangers2–1Annfield PlainConsett Swifts1–2Craghead UnitedFerryhill Athletic4–1Trimdon Grange CollierySpennymoor United8–1BirtleySunderland West End2–0Hetton UnitedThornley Albion0–0Dipton UnitedReplayDipton United2–1Thornley AlbionWingate Albion Comrades0–1Ouston RoversPreliminary roundEsh Winning1–0 Dipton UnitedFerryhill Athletic5–0Sunderland West EndHorden Athletic2–1Craghead UnitedLeadgate Park3–1HoughtonOuston Rovers3–1Langley ParkSpennymoor United6–2Hobson WanderersWest Stanley3–0Seaham Harbour White-le-Head Rangers1–1Chester-le-StreetReplayChester-le-StreetWhite-le-Head RangersvoidWhite-le-Head Rangers disqualified forplaying an ineligible playerFirst qualifying roundChester-le-Street0–1West Stanley Ferryhill Athletic2–1Horden AthleticOuston RoversLeadgate ParkVoidOuston Rovers disqualified forplaying an ineligible playerSpennymoor United3–0Esh WinningSecond qualifying roundFerryhill Athletic0–0West StanleyReplayWest Stanley3–1Ferryhill AthleticSpennymoor United3–1Leadgate ParkThird qualifying roundWest Stanley5–0Spennymoor United
Division 3 (County Durham / North Yorkshire / East Riding of Yorkshire) The division comprised 19 teams, of which 6 were drawn into the extra preliminary round to reduce the number to 16 teams required for 8 preliminary round ties.
Cockfield, members of the Northern League, progressed from the division to the fourth qualifying round.
TieHome teamScoreAway teamNoteExtra preliminary roundBridlington Town3–2Eston UnitedSouth Bank East End6–0FileyStanley United2–3WillingtonPreliminary roundBridlington Town5–3Grangetown St Mary'sBrotton1–1Loftus AlbionReplayLoftus Albion4–1BrottonCockfield2–1Shildon AthleticCoundon United3–2Darlington Rlwy AthleticScarborough3–3South Bank East EndReplaySouth Bank East End2–3ScarboroughaetStockton3–0Rise CarrTow Law Town3–2Crook TownWillington8–0Haverton HillFirst qualifying roundCockfield3–1Loftus AlbionScarborough0–7WillingtonStockton4–3Coundon UnitedTow Law Town5–1Bridlington TownSecond qualifying roundCockfield3–2WillingtonStockton3–1Tow Law TownThird qualifying roundStockton0–1Cockfield
Division 4 (Cumbria) The division comprised 16 teams, all of which were drawn into the preliminary round.
Workington, members of the North Eastern League, who had been drawn as the away team in their four ties (but owing to two switches of venue played away only twice), progressed from the division to the fourth qualifying round in which they were again drawn as the away team and defeated at Third Division North club Barrow.
TieHome teamScoreAway teamNotePreliminary roundBowthorn Recreation4–1Arlecdon Red RoseEgremont4–4Wigton HarriersReplayWigton Harriers3–1EgremontFrizington Athletic4–2 Whitehaven AthleticKendal Town1–1WindermereReplayWindermereKendal TownVoidKendal Town disqualified (played an ineligible player)Keswick1–1Cleator Moor CelticReplayCleator Moor Celtic5–1KeswickMoor Row Villa Rovers3–4Whitehaven CRPenrith2–2ApplebyReplayAppleby1–6PenrithWorkington3–3Wath Brow United§ReplayWorkington2–1Wath Brow UnitedFirst qualifying roundBowthorn Recreation3–3PenrithReplayPenrith1–0Bowthorn RecreationaetWhitehaven CR2–2Frizington AthleticReplayFrizington Athletic1–2Whitehaven CRWigton Harriers1–4Cleator Moor CelticWorkington7–0Windermere§ Second qualifying roundCleator Moor Celtic1–2WorkingtonWhitehaven CR2–0PenrithThird qualifying roundWhitehaven CR0–4Workington
Division 5 (Lancashire) The division comprised 14 teams from which 6 preliminary round ties with drawn, resulting in byes to the first qualifying round for two clubs, Fleetwood and Lancaster Town.
Fleetwood, members of the Lancashire Combination, progressed from the division to the fourth qualifying round.
TieHome teamScoreAway teamNotePreliminary roundBurscough Rangers2–7Dick, Kerr'sChorley2–1DarwenGreat Harwood2–2LythamReplayLytham2–1Great HarwoodLeyland MotorsHorwich RMIVoidLeyland Motors disqualifiedfor playing an ineligible playerMorecambe2–2Breightmet United§ReplayMorecambe4–0Breightmet UnitedRossendale United7–4LeylandFirst qualifying roundDick, Kerr's2–0Lancaster TownHorwich RMI1–1ChorleyReplayChorley1–0Horwich RMIMorecambe1–0LythamRossendale United1–1FleetwoodReplayFleetwood2–2Rossendale UnitedaetReplay 2Rossendale United1–4Fleetwoodaet; @WiganSecond qualifying roundFleetwood1–0Dick, Kerr'sMorecambe2–1ChorleyThird qualifying roundMorecambe0–1Fleetwood
Division 6 (Lancashire / Derbyshire) The division comprised 16 teams all of which were drawn into the preliminary round.
Eccles United, members of the Lancashire Combination, progressed from the division to the fourth qualifying round.
TieHome teamScoreAway teamNotePreliminary roundBuxton5–1Marlborough Old BoysChapel-en-le-Frith5–1PrescotEccles United2–0GlossopGarston Gasworks7–0YoulgreaveHurst5–3Whiston ParishMarine2–0AthertonOld Xaverians1–3Skelmersdale UnitedPrescot Wire Works0–0RuncornReplayRuncorn3–0Prescot Wire WorksFirst qualifying roundBuxton2–0Chapel-en-le-FrithEccles United1–0MarineGarston Gasworks4–6Skelmersdale UnitedRuncorn1–3HurstSecond qualifying roundBuxton0–2Eccles UnitedSkelmersdale United2–3HurstThird qualifying roundHurst2–2Eccles UnitedReplayEccles United1–0Hurst
Division 7 (Cheshire) The division comprised 15 teams, of which 14 were drawn into the preliminary with Harrowby receiving a bye to the first qualifying round.
New Brighton, members of the Lancashire Combination, progressed from the division to the fourth qualifying round. They won their next three qualifying matches before being eliminated in the first round proper at The Wednesday.
TieHome teamScoreAway teamNotePreliminary roundEllesmere Port Cement4–3Lostock GralamMacclesfield3–0Nantwich TownMiddlewich1–3Sandbach RamblersNew Brighton4–2ChesterNorthwich Victoria2–0Ellesmere Port TownWinsford United0–1Port SunlightWitton Albion3–0West KirbyFirst qualifying roundEllesmere Port Cement2–1MacclesfieldHarrowby0–2Witton AlbionNorthwich Victoria0–1New BrightonPort Sunlight0–0Sandbach RamblersReplaySandbach Ramblers1–0Port SunlightSecond qualifying roundSandbach Ramblers2–0Ellesmere Port CementWitton Albion1–2New BrightonThird qualifying roundNew Brighton5–0Sandbach Ramblers
Division 8 (West Midlands, Herefordshire and north Wales Border) The division comprised 32 teams from the counties of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, South Warwickshire, Worcestershire and north Wales Border. All the teams were drawn into the extra preliminary round.