1972–73 FA Cup

Qualifying rounds

For the 1972–73 FA Cup, non-League clubs had to go through qualifying rounds, with 28 first-round spots up for grabs. The fourth qualifying round winners were South Shields, Spennymoor United, Scarborough, Altrincham, Lancaster City, Rhyl, Wigan Athletic, South Liverpool, Bangor City, Nuneaton Borough, Bilston, Telford United, Grantham, Boston United, Kettering Town, Chelmsford City, Bishop's Stortford, Hillingdon Borough, Margate, Bognor Regis Town, Guildford City, Hayes, Walton & Hersham, Tonbridge, Banbury United, Alton Town, Yeovil Town and Barnstaple Town.

Bognor Regis Town and Alton Town made their first appearances in the main draw. Hayes had not reached this stage since 1964–65, Banbury United since 1961–62, Barnstaple Town since 1959–60, and Lancaster City since 1947–48. Only three non-league sides got past the second round. Walton & Hersham played ten matches over seven rounds, beating Metropolitan Police, Staines Town, Leytonstone, Wycombe Wanderers, Dartford, and Exeter City, before losing to Margate at Stompond Lane.

Results

In the first round, 48 Football League Third and Fourth Division clubs joined the qualifying round winners, with four additional non-league clubs receiving byes: Stafford Rangers, Barnet, Hendon and Enfield. Matches were scheduled for 18 November 1972; nine were drawn, and Scunthorpe United and Hartlepool required a second replay at Roker Park. The second round was scheduled for 9 December 1972, except the Walsall–Charlton Athletic match played three days later; five matches were drawn.

The third round saw 44 First and Second Division clubs enter, with matches scheduled for 13 January 1973 except Reading–Doncaster Rovers on the following Wednesday; eleven matches were drawn, two requiring a second replay. The first replay between Nottingham Forest and West Bromwich Albion was abandoned at 1–1 in the 81st minute due to fog at the City Ground; a restaged replay finished 0–0, leading to a second replay at Filbert Street. Barnet, Chelmsford City and Margate were the last non-league sides.

The fourth round was scheduled for 3 February 1973; five matches were drawn, two requiring a second replay. The fifth round was scheduled for 24 February 1973 with one replay three days later. The quarter-finals were played on 17 March 1973 with one replay three days later. The semi-finals on 7 April 1973 required no replays; Sunderland and Leeds United advanced.

A third place playoff was held between the two losing semi-finalists. The final on 5 May 1973 at Wembley saw Sunderland defeat Leeds United 1–0 before 100,000 spectators.