1960s FA Cup Semi-Finals

Lore & Background

The semi-finals have always been contested at neutral venues. Since 2008, all semi-finals have been held at the new Wembley Stadium. In the past, any suitably large ground which was not the home ground of a team in that semi-final was used. Villa Park in Birmingham, Old Trafford in Manchester, and Hillsborough in Sheffield were common hosts. All semi-finals between 1871 and 1881 were played at Kennington Oval. The first neutral semi-final match outside London took place in 1882 in Huddersfield. The 1989 semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough turned into tragedy when 97 supporters were killed in the stands due to overcrowding. The 1991 North London derby semi-final between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur was the first to be played at Wembley. In 2003, it was announced that all future semi-finals would be played at the new Wembley Stadium once it had opened; this took effect in 2008.

In Their Own Story

The roar at Maine Road was deafening as the clock ticked toward full time in April 1969. Rain slicked the pitch, reflecting the floodlights above the packed stands. A Leicester player sprinted down the wing, the blue and white kit a blur against the grey Manchester afternoon. The ball found its target near the six-yard box, sending a collective gasp rippling through the traveling support. As the referee blew his whistle to confirm the win, players collapsed in exhaustion, knowing they had earned their place at Wembley.

Reader's Guide

In the past, there would be a replay if a semi-final match was drawn. If the replay was also drawn, there would be a second replay. In theory, an unlimited number of games could be played to obtain a winner. For example, in 1980 it took four games to decide the tie between Arsenal and Liverpool. Prior to the 1992 semi-finals, the only semi-final played under different rules was the 1989 semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford, which had been rearranged due to the Hillsborough disaster, for which it had been declared in advance that the game would be decided by extra time and penalties if necessary. In 1991 the FA decided that only one replay should be played (starting with the 1991–92 competition). From the 1999-2000 competition it was decided that the semi-finals should be decided in one game, with extra time and penalties if the score was level after 90 minutes. The last FA Cup semi-final replay, in 1999, saw Manchester United take on Arsenal at Villa Park. From 2016 to 2017, a fourth substitute was allowed in semi-final matches if the game went into extra time.

Did You Know?

• Villa Park is the most used stadium in FA Cup semi-final history, having hosted 57 semi-finals.
• The record for most appearances in semi-finals is held by Manchester United, with 32 in total.
• The record for most consecutive semi-final appearances is held by Manchester City, with four successive semi-finals between 2019 and 2022.
• The highest attendance for an FA Cup semi-final is 88,141 for Everton's penalty win over Manchester United on 19 April 2009.
• The highest winning margin was Newcastle United's 6–0 victory over Fulham in the 1908 Anfield semi-final.