1930 FA Cup Final vs Huddersfield Town

The 1930 FA Cup Final, played at Wembley Stadium on 26 April 1930, saw Arsenal defeat Huddersfield Town 2–0. Goals from Alex James and Jack Lambert secured Arsenal’s first FA Cup victory, following their defeat in their only previous final appearance in 1927.

For the first time in a Cup Final, both teams entered the pitch side by side, led by captains Tom Parker and Tom Wilson. This was done in honour of Arsenal manager Herbert Chapman, who had previously led Huddersfield to great success in the 1920s. When Chapman joined Arsenal in 1925, he predicted it would take five years to build a winning team; the 1930 final proved him correct.

Huddersfield had historically been the stronger side. They won the FA Cup in 1921–22 and, under Chapman, became the first club to win three consecutive league titles (1923–24, 1924–25, and 1925–26). In 1927–28, they finished runners-up in both the league and the FA Cup. Arsenal, by contrast, had won nothing in nearly fifty years, with only a runners-up finish in the 1926–27 FA Cup to their name.

Five days before the final, Arsenal played a 6–6 draw at Leicester City, the highest-scoring draw in English top-flight history. Dave Halliday, who scored four of Arsenal’s goals that day, was left out of the Cup Final squad in favour of Jack Lambert.

The 1930 final is remembered for the Graf Zeppelin passing over the stadium. At 776 feet in length, it was the largest airship ever built. King George V, who had been recovering from illness for eighteen months, made a surprise appearance and was introduced to the players; the airship saluted him as it flew overhead.

The match was the first for which a fee was paid for broadcasting rights, and only the fifth live radio broadcast of a football match. Commentary was provided by George Allison, an Arsenal director and shareholder.

Other results on Cup Final day included a 4–4 draw between Wolves and Bradford Park Avenue, Fred Cheesmuir scoring six goals for Gillingham in a 6–0 win over Merthyr Town, Lincoln City beating New Brighton 5–2, and Sheffield Wednesday holding their lead at the top of the First Division with a 1–0 victory over Grimsby Town.

Arsenal’s Bill Seddon, who died in January 1993 at age 91, was the last surviving player from the match.

Both teams used Chapman’s now-famous W-M formation. Arsenal wore red shirts; Huddersfield wore blue and white stripes.

Arsenal scored the first goal in the 16th minute. According to an anecdote, inside left Alex James had told Cliff Bastin on the way to the match: “If we get a free-kick in their half early on, I’ll slip it out to you on the wing. You give it me back and I’ll have a crack at goal.” When referee Tom Crew awarded a free-kick after James was fouled 40 yards from goal, James took it immediately—a controversial move at the time—passed to Bastin, who returned the ball, and James scored.

Huddersfield attacked for the remainder of the match but could not score, despite aggressive and risky goalkeeping by Arsenal’s backup, Charlie Preedy. Alex Jackson had two excellent chances: a header and a left-footed drive that went just wide. Arsenal’s defence effectively shut down Huddersfield’s forwards, while Huddersfield’s defence also performed well, with Roy Goodall preventing Cliff Bastin from threatening the goal.

Late in the match, a long clearance from James found centre forward Jack Lambert. He slipped between defenders Goodall and Bon Spence to rush at goalkeeper Hugh Turner and score. With no teammates nearby to celebrate, Lambert clapped for himself as he ran back to his own half. Arsenal had won the cup for the first time.

After the match, the two sides dined together at the Cafe Royal, an innovation from Chapman that did not become a tradition.