1969–70 FA Cup

Qualifying rounds

Most clubs not in the Football League entered the qualifying rounds, with 30 places in the first round available. The fourth qualifying round winners included South Shields, Whitby Town, Spennymoor United, Mossley, Bangor City, Wigan Athletic, Macclesfield Town, Kirkby Town, Grantham, Telford United, Hereford United, Tamworth, Alfreton Town, Kettering Town, Chelmsford City, Oxford City, Brentwood Town, Hendon, Enfield, Hillingdon Borough, Margate, Barnet, Carshalton Athletic, Walton & Hersham, Dagenham, Wimbledon, Cheltenham Town, Weymouth, Yeovil Town and Falmouth Town.

Whitby Town, Kirkby Town, Alfreton Town and Carshalton Athletic appeared in the competition proper for the first time. Hillingdon Borough played eleven Cup fixtures between 20 September 1969 and 12 January 1970, progressing from the first qualifying round to the third round proper, defeating Tooting & Mitcham United (after a replay), Bromley, Tilbury, Dartford (after a second replay), Wimbledon and Luton Town before losing to Sutton United after another replay.

Results

In the first round, 48 Football League Third and Fourth Division clubs joined the 30 non-league qualifiers. North Shields and Sutton United received byes as the previous season's FA Amateur Cup champions and runners-up. Matches were scheduled for 15 November 1969; thirteen were drawn, with two going to second replays and one to a third. The second round, scheduled for 6 December 1969, saw seven draws; replays occurred later that week, with two games needing a second replay and one a third.

The 44 First and Second Division clubs entered in the third round, scheduled for 3 January 1970, though three matches were played later. Nine matches were drawn; York City and Cardiff City required a second replay at Birmingham City's St Andrew's ground. The fourth round, scheduled for 24 January 1970, had five draws; replays took place three or four days later. Sutton United was the last non-league club remaining.

The fifth round, scheduled for 7 February 1970, had one replay four days later; George Best scored six goals for Manchester United in their 8–2 win against Northampton Town. The quarter-finals were played on 21 February 1970, with one replay the following Wednesday. The semi-finals on 14 March 1970 saw Manchester United and Leeds United need two replays over 12 days, with the tie requiring 219 minutes for a goal; Leeds won with a Billy Bremner goal.

Chelsea won the other semi-final. Between 1970 and 1974 a third place playoff was held for the losing semi-finalists. The final on 11 April 1970 ended 2–2 after extra time; the replay at Old Trafford on 29 April 1970 finished 1–1 after 90 minutes, with Chelsea winning after extra time.