1933 FA Cup Final
Encyclopedia
The 1933 FA Cup Final was a football match between Everton
and Manchester City
on 29 April 1933 at Wembley Stadium in London
. The deciding match of English football's primary cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup (better known as the FA Cup
), it was the 62nd final, and the 11th at Wembley. The 1933 final was the first where the players, including goalkeepers, were issued numbers for identification. Everton were allocated numbers 1–11 and Manchester City numbers 12–22.
Each team progressed through five rounds to reach the final. Everton won 3–0, with goals from Jimmy Stein
, Dixie Dean
and James Dunn
, and won the cup for the first time since 1906.
Both teams entered the competition in the third round, the entry point for First Division clubs. Everton were drawn to play Leicester City
at Filbert Street
, an all First Division tie. The match was close; Dixie Dean
scored for Everton after three minutes, but Leicester quickly levelled the score. A goal by Jimmy Stein
gave Everton a 2–1 half-time lead, but Leicester again equalised. James Dunn
eventually scored to secure a 3–2 win for Everton. Second Division Bury
provided the opposition in the fourth round. Tommy Johnson scored twice for Everton in the opening half hour. From that point, though Bury enjoyed significant spells of possession, Everton thwarted their efforts by preying on Bury mistakes. In the second half Dean added a third goal from a rebounded Cliff Britton
free-kick, and Bury scored a late consolation goal. Everton were drawn at to play Leeds United
at home in the fifth round. Leeds' strong league form meant Everton entered the match as slight underdogs despite home advantage. Everton goalkeeper Ted Sagar
made two important saves in the first half to deny Arthur Hydes
and Billy Furness
. Everton the gained the upper hand and scored twice, Dean with the first, and Stein with the second, direct from a corner.
Against Third Division Luton Town
in the quarter-final, Everton won comfortably. The match remained scoreless for half an hour, but after Stein opened the scoring for Everton the match became one-sided, and ended 6–0. Stein and Johnson both scored twice, along with a goal each for Dunn and Dean, the latter keeping up his record of scoring in every round. By this time Everton were viewed as favourites to win the competition. In the semi-final they played West Ham
at Molineux
, Wolverhampton
. Everton took the lead in the sixth minute. A corner kick by Stein was headed on by Johnson, and then headed into the net by Dunn. Everton had the better of the play in the first half, but Vic Watson
scored for West Ham just before half-time. In the second half West Ham's Woods missed an open goal from six yards (5.5m). Everton then capitalised on their reprieve. With seven minutes remaining, a mistake by Jim Barrett
allowed Edward Critchley
to go clear on goal and score the winner.
Manchester City started the competition at Third Division Gateshead. Despite the disparity in league positions, a heavy pitch made for an even game, which finished 1–1. The replay at Maine Road
was one-sided. A 9–0 Manchester City win featured six different scorers, including a hat-trick from Fred Tilson
. In the fourth round Manchester City faced another Third Division side, Walsall
, who had provided the surprise result of the third round by defeating league leaders Arsenal
. Brook scored both goals in a 2–0 win, in which Walsall's Reed was sent off for a foul on Brook. The fifth round brought a short trip to Bolton Wanderers
, where the attendance of 69,920 was the highest of the round. Bolton took the lead, but Brook scored twice in quick succession to give Manchester City the advantage at the interval. Bolton equalised when a gust of wind caught Raymond Westwood
's corner. Brook completed a hat trick
with a penalty
to regain the lead, and in the closing minutes Tilson completed a 4–2 victory. The Manchester Guardian suggested Brook's "magnificent display" made him a contender for an England
call-up.
Manchester City's quarter-final was against Burnley
of the Second Division. City took the lead early in the match following a solo goal by Tilson. In the second-half Burnley discarded their passing game in favour of a direct approach, and pressured the Manchester City goal. The City defence stood firm, and the match finished 1–0. City's opponents for the semi-final, held at Leeds Road
, Huddersfield
, were Derby County
. Derby had two chances to score in the first half, but both were missed. A Manchester City counter-attack produced the opening goal, when Brook crossed and Toseland headed in. By midway through the second half Manchester City led by three goals. The second was scored by Tilson, a follow-up after an initial saved shot. McMullan scored the third after dribbling through the Derby defence. Derby mounted a late comeback. A goal by Howard Fabian reduced the deficit to two, and Sammy Crooks
added a late second for Derby, but it was too late to affect the result of the match, which ended 3–2.
1–0 to win the Cup in 1906
, but were defeated in the 1893
, 1897
and 1907
finals. The 1933 final was Manchester City's third. Both their previous finals were against Bolton Wanderers
. Manchester City won by a goal to nil in 1904
, and lost by the same scoreline in 1926
. Both teams had performed well in the previous season. Manchester City reached the semi-finals of the 1932 FA Cup; Everton were reigning league champions. The clubs had never previously met in cup competition. The league matches between the two earlier in the season each finished as a win for the home team. At the time of the final, Everton's league position was tenth, and Manchester City's sixteenth. Newspapers did not declare a clear favourite for the win. Everton were viewed as having the more skilful players, particularly their forwards, whereas Manchester City were seen as having greater strength and determination.
Everton spent the week before the match in the spa town of Buxton
, and travelled to Dorking
on the eve of the match. Manchester City spent the week in Bushey
. Everton's James Dunn received treatment on a thigh injury in the ten days preceding the game, but was anticipated to be fit enough to play. Manchester City's main injury worry was Fred Tilson, who was troubled by a leg injury. Dunn was passed fit well before the game, allowing Everton to field the same line-up that played in four of their five previous cup ties.
Ten miles (16 km) of barbed wire was used to secure Wembley Stadium against unauthorised entry. The pre-match entertainment was music by the Band of the Irish Guards, and communal singing backed by the band of the Royal Horse Guards
. Inclement weather prevented the attendance of King George V
. Instead the guest of honour was the Duke of York
. Other guests present included Baron Wigram
, Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey
, Austrian envoy Baron von Franckenstein
and the West Indies cricket team.
The Manchester City line-up contained two survivors from the 1926 team, Sam Cowan
and Jimmy McMullan
. The only Everton player with cup final experience was Tommy Johnson, who also played for Manchester City in the 1926 final. He represented the Manchester club between 1919 and 1930, and at the time of the 1933 final was Manchester City's all-time highest goalscorer.
Both teams usually wore blue, causing a colour clash. The competition rules required both teams to wear alternative colours. For the first time in a cup final, the players wore numbered shirts. Everton were numbered 1–11, and Manchester City 12–22. Everton goalkeeper Sagar wore 1, with the forwards bearing the higher numbers. Manchester City were the reverse. Forward Brook wore 12, through to goalkeeper Langford who wore 22.
moved across to Tilson's usual centre-forward position, and Bobby Marshall
was selected at inside-right.
Manchester City had the first attack of the match, but it came to nothing. Soon Everton began to dominate the match, with Dean frequently involved in the attacking play. Several Everton attacks came on their left flank. Stein caused Manchester City right-back Sid Cann
problems, and Cann was forced to concede a corner kick on several occasions. Just after the half-hour Everton had their first shot on target, when Stein's effort was saved by Langford. Another chance quickly arrived. Stein's cross passed in front of goal, but Dean was unable to connect with the ball. Two minutes later Manchester City goalkeeper Langford attempted to catch a cross from Britton, but dropped the ball under pressure from Dean. The ball fell into the path of Stein, who put the ball into the empty net to give Everton the lead. At half-time Everton led 1–0.
Everton continued to control the game in the second half. Manchester City took shots from long range, but none required Sagar to make a save. Seven minutes into the second half, Langford again failed to catch a Britton cross, and Dean charged to the net. Dean, ball and goalkeeper all landed in the goal, making the score 2–0. Manchester City then made a few fruitless attacks. As was the case throughout the game, the Everton defence outplayed the Manchester City forwards. The Manchester Guardian singled out Warney Cresswell
for particular praise, describing his performance as "an almost perfect display". Ten minutes from time a Dunn header from a corner made the score 3–0 to Everton. Just before the end Everton's Johnson had a chance to make it 4–0, but the referee blew his whistle for full-time before Johnson could take his shot.
style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align=center>
Manchester City:
|
22
Len Langford
21
Sid Cann
20
Bill Dale
19
Matt Busby
18
Sam Cowan
(c)
17
Jackie Bray
16
Ernie Toseland
15
Bobby Marshall
14
Alec Herd
13
Jimmy McMullan
12
Eric Brook
Manager:
Wilf Wild
Newsreels of the final featured post-match toasts by the two captains. First Dixie Dean, raising his glass, said "Here's to Lancashire, and may the cup stay in Lancashire. If Everton don't win it, may another Lancashire club win it." Cowan replied "I hope the next Lancashire club that wins it is Manchester City, my club". The following year's final made the captains' remarks look perceptive. Cowan and his Manchester City team returned, and beat Portsmouth
2–1 to win the 1934 cup. Both Manchester City and Everton also went on to win the league championship later in the decade; Manchester City in 1937, and Everton in 1939.
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
and Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
on 29 April 1933 at Wembley Stadium in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The deciding match of English football's primary cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup (better known as the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
), it was the 62nd final, and the 11th at Wembley. The 1933 final was the first where the players, including goalkeepers, were issued numbers for identification. Everton were allocated numbers 1–11 and Manchester City numbers 12–22.
Each team progressed through five rounds to reach the final. Everton won 3–0, with goals from Jimmy Stein
Jimmy Stein
James "Jimmy" Stein was a Scottish professional association footballer who played as a winger. Stein was a model professional who had the distinction of scoring Everton's first-ever goal at Wembley when he netted in the 1933 FA Cup Final...
, Dixie Dean
Dixie Dean
William Ralph Dean , better known as Dixie Dean, was an English football player. Dean originally started his career with Birkenhead based Tranmere Rovers before moving on to Everton, the club he had supported as a child, where he became one of the most prolific goal-scorers in English football...
and James Dunn
James Dunn (Scottish footballer)
James "Jimmy" Dunn was a Scottish professional international footballer, most famous for being part of the 1928 Wembley Wizards side....
, and won the cup for the first time since 1906.
Everton
| Round | Opposition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd | Leicester City Leicester City F.C. Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester... (a) |
3–2 |
| 4th | Bury Bury F.C. Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the... (h) |
2–0 |
| 5th | Leeds United (h) | 4–2 |
| 6th | Luton Town Luton Town F.C. Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was... (h) |
6–0 |
| Semi-final | West Ham United West Ham United F.C. West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current... (n Molineux Molineux may refer to:*William Molineux, American, participant in the Boston Tea Party*Molineux Stadium, in Wolverhampton, England**by metonymy, Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C., the team that plays there... ) |
2–1 |
Both teams entered the competition in the third round, the entry point for First Division clubs. Everton were drawn to play Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
at Filbert Street
Filbert Street
Filbert Street, in Leicester, England, was a football stadium, and the home of Leicester City from 1891 to 2002. Although officially titled "The City Business Stadium" in the early 1990s, it remained known almost exclusively by its address, like many English football stadia.- Early years :The club,...
, an all First Division tie. The match was close; Dixie Dean
Dixie Dean
William Ralph Dean , better known as Dixie Dean, was an English football player. Dean originally started his career with Birkenhead based Tranmere Rovers before moving on to Everton, the club he had supported as a child, where he became one of the most prolific goal-scorers in English football...
scored for Everton after three minutes, but Leicester quickly levelled the score. A goal by Jimmy Stein
Jimmy Stein
James "Jimmy" Stein was a Scottish professional association footballer who played as a winger. Stein was a model professional who had the distinction of scoring Everton's first-ever goal at Wembley when he netted in the 1933 FA Cup Final...
gave Everton a 2–1 half-time lead, but Leicester again equalised. James Dunn
James Dunn (Scottish footballer)
James "Jimmy" Dunn was a Scottish professional international footballer, most famous for being part of the 1928 Wembley Wizards side....
eventually scored to secure a 3–2 win for Everton. Second Division Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
provided the opposition in the fourth round. Tommy Johnson scored twice for Everton in the opening half hour. From that point, though Bury enjoyed significant spells of possession, Everton thwarted their efforts by preying on Bury mistakes. In the second half Dean added a third goal from a rebounded Cliff Britton
Cliff Britton
Clifford Samuel Britton was a footballer and football manager. He was born 29 August 1909 in Hanham in Bristol and died 1 December 1975.-Playing career:...
free-kick, and Bury scored a late consolation goal. Everton were drawn at to play Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
at home in the fifth round. Leeds' strong league form meant Everton entered the match as slight underdogs despite home advantage. Everton goalkeeper Ted Sagar
Ted Sagar
Edward "Ted" Sagar played football for Everton and England.He was known as a fearless goalkeeper of great ability. He was quite light in an era when goalkeepers were barged into more often than today. He joined Everton as an apprentice in 1929 after playing for Thorne Colliery in Yorkshire and...
made two important saves in the first half to deny Arthur Hydes
Arthur Hydes
Arthur Hydes was a retired English football player born in Barnsley. He played for Leeds United and Newport County. He scored almost 100 goals in his career with over 80 of them at Leeds. This included three consecutive years as Leeds' leading scorer.-References:...
and Billy Furness
Billy Furness
William Isaac Furness was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward for Leeds United and Norwich City in the 1930s, making one appearance for England in 1933.-Career:...
. Everton the gained the upper hand and scored twice, Dean with the first, and Stein with the second, direct from a corner.
Against Third Division Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
in the quarter-final, Everton won comfortably. The match remained scoreless for half an hour, but after Stein opened the scoring for Everton the match became one-sided, and ended 6–0. Stein and Johnson both scored twice, along with a goal each for Dunn and Dean, the latter keeping up his record of scoring in every round. By this time Everton were viewed as favourites to win the competition. In the semi-final they played West Ham
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
at Molineux
Molineux stadium
Molineux Stadium is a Premier League football stadium situated in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, England. It has been the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club since 1889, and has a long and illustrious history as the first 'new build' stadium in Football League history, one of the...
, Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
. Everton took the lead in the sixth minute. A corner kick by Stein was headed on by Johnson, and then headed into the net by Dunn. Everton had the better of the play in the first half, but Vic Watson
Vic Watson
Victor Martin Watson was an English footballer who played most of his club football for West Ham United....
scored for West Ham just before half-time. In the second half West Ham's Woods missed an open goal from six yards (5.5m). Everton then capitalised on their reprieve. With seven minutes remaining, a mistake by Jim Barrett
Jim Barrett, Sr.
James William Barrett was an English footballer who played for West Ham United.Born in Stratford, London, Barrett began playing football at the city's Park School, after moving from Abbey School because it lacked a team...
allowed Edward Critchley
Edward Critchley
Edward Critchley was an English footballer.-Club career:Critchley played local football for Spring Gardens, Stockport Union Chapel, Cheadle and Witton Albion before joining Stockport County via Stalybridge Celtic in 1922...
to go clear on goal and score the winner.
Manchester City
| Round | Opposition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd | Gateshead (a) | 1–1 |
| Gateshead (h) | 9–0 | |
| 4th | Walsall Walsall F.C. Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second... (h) |
2–0 |
| 5th | Bolton Wanderers Bolton Wanderers F.C. Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001.... (a) |
4–2 |
| 6th | Burnley Burnley F.C. Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888... (a) |
1–0 |
| Semi-final | Derby County Derby County F.C. Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English... (n Leeds Road Leeds Road may refer to:* Leeds Road, former football and rugby league stadium in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England* A660 road, West Yorkshire, England, between Golden Acre Park and the Otley bypass... ) |
3–2 |
Manchester City started the competition at Third Division Gateshead. Despite the disparity in league positions, a heavy pitch made for an even game, which finished 1–1. The replay at Maine Road
Maine Road
Maine Road was a football stadium in Moss Side, Manchester, England that was home to Manchester City F.C. from its construction in 1923 until 2003...
was one-sided. A 9–0 Manchester City win featured six different scorers, including a hat-trick from Fred Tilson
Fred Tilson
Samuel Frederick "Fred" Tilson was an association football player for Manchester City and England. He was born in Swinton, South Yorkshire. He was part of the City team that won both the FA Cup and the League Championship in the 1930s...
. In the fourth round Manchester City faced another Third Division side, Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
, who had provided the surprise result of the third round by defeating league leaders Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
. Brook scored both goals in a 2–0 win, in which Walsall's Reed was sent off for a foul on Brook. The fifth round brought a short trip to Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
, where the attendance of 69,920 was the highest of the round. Bolton took the lead, but Brook scored twice in quick succession to give Manchester City the advantage at the interval. Bolton equalised when a gust of wind caught Raymond Westwood
Raymond Westwood
Raymond William Westwood was an English international footballer, who played as a forward.-Career:Born in Brierley Hill, Westwood played professionally for Bolton Wanderers, and earned six caps for England between 1934 and 1936....
's corner. Brook completed a hat trick
Hat Trick
Hat trick, hat-trick or hattrick may refer to:* hat-trick — in various sports, achieving three goals, wickets, etc. in a single match* Hattrick — online football management game** Hattrick Limited — producers of this game...
with a penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
to regain the lead, and in the closing minutes Tilson completed a 4–2 victory. The Manchester Guardian suggested Brook's "magnificent display" made him a contender for an England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
call-up.
Manchester City's quarter-final was against Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
of the Second Division. City took the lead early in the match following a solo goal by Tilson. In the second-half Burnley discarded their passing game in favour of a direct approach, and pressured the Manchester City goal. The City defence stood firm, and the match finished 1–0. City's opponents for the semi-final, held at Leeds Road
Leeds Road
Leeds Road may refer to:* Leeds Road, former football and rugby league stadium in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England* A660 road, West Yorkshire, England, between Golden Acre Park and the Otley bypass...
, Huddersfield
Huddersfield
Huddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
, were Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
. Derby had two chances to score in the first half, but both were missed. A Manchester City counter-attack produced the opening goal, when Brook crossed and Toseland headed in. By midway through the second half Manchester City led by three goals. The second was scored by Tilson, a follow-up after an initial saved shot. McMullan scored the third after dribbling through the Derby defence. Derby mounted a late comeback. A goal by Howard Fabian reduced the deficit to two, and Sammy Crooks
Sammy Crooks
Samuel "Sammy" Dickinson Crooks was an English footballer who played as outside forwardoutside-right for Derby County in the mid-war era. He was one of the best-known footballers of the 1920s and 1930s and was capped 26 times by England.-Early life:He was one of a family of 17 children...
added a late second for Derby, but it was too late to affect the result of the match, which ended 3–2.
Build-up
Everton had contested the final on four previous occasions. They beat Newcastle UnitedNewcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
1–0 to win the Cup in 1906
1906 FA Cup Final
The 1906 FA Cup Final was contested by Everton and Newcastle United at Crystal Palace. Everton won 1–0, the goal scored by Alex "Sandy" Young.-Match details:-Road to the Final:-References:**-External links:* *...
, but were defeated in the 1893
1893 FA Cup Final
The 1893 FA Cup Final was an association football game contested by Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton. Wolves won by a single goal, scored by Harry Allen....
, 1897
1897 FA Cup Final
The 1897 FA Cup Final was contested by Aston Villa and Everton at Crystal Palace. Aston Villa won 3–2, with goals by John Campbell, Fred Wheldon and Jimmy Crabtree. Everton's goals came from Jack Bell and Dickie Boyle....
and 1907
1907 FA Cup Final
The 1907 FA Cup Final was contested by The Wednesday and Everton at Crystal Palace. Sheffield Wednesday won 2–1, with goals by Jimmy Stewart and George Simpson....
finals. The 1933 final was Manchester City's third. Both their previous finals were against Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
. Manchester City won by a goal to nil in 1904
1904 FA Cup Final
The 1904 FA Cup Final was a football match between Bolton Wanderers and Manchester City on 23 April 1904 at Crystal Palace in London. The showpiece match of English football's primary cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup , it was the 32nd Cup final, and the tenth at Crystal...
, and lost by the same scoreline in 1926
1926 FA Cup Final
The 1926 FA Cup Final was a football match between Bolton Wanderers and Manchester City on 24 April 1926 at Wembley Stadium in London. The showpiece match of English football's primary cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup , it was the 55th final, and the fourth at Wembley.Each...
. Both teams had performed well in the previous season. Manchester City reached the semi-finals of the 1932 FA Cup; Everton were reigning league champions. The clubs had never previously met in cup competition. The league matches between the two earlier in the season each finished as a win for the home team. At the time of the final, Everton's league position was tenth, and Manchester City's sixteenth. Newspapers did not declare a clear favourite for the win. Everton were viewed as having the more skilful players, particularly their forwards, whereas Manchester City were seen as having greater strength and determination.
Everton spent the week before the match in the spa town of Buxton
Buxton
Buxton is a spa town in Derbyshire, England. It has the highest elevation of any market town in England. Located close to the county boundary with Cheshire to the west and Staffordshire to the south, Buxton is described as "the gateway to the Peak District National Park"...
, and travelled to Dorking
Dorking
Dorking is a historic market town at the foot of the North Downs approximately south of London, in Surrey, England.- History and development :...
on the eve of the match. Manchester City spent the week in Bushey
Bushey
Bushey is a town in the Hertsmere borough of Hertfordshire in the East of England. Bushey Heath is situated to the south east of Bushey on the boundary with the London Borough of Harrow.-History:...
. Everton's James Dunn received treatment on a thigh injury in the ten days preceding the game, but was anticipated to be fit enough to play. Manchester City's main injury worry was Fred Tilson, who was troubled by a leg injury. Dunn was passed fit well before the game, allowing Everton to field the same line-up that played in four of their five previous cup ties.
Ten miles (16 km) of barbed wire was used to secure Wembley Stadium against unauthorised entry. The pre-match entertainment was music by the Band of the Irish Guards, and communal singing backed by the band of the Royal Horse Guards
Royal Horse Guards
The Royal Horse Guards was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, part of the Household Cavalry.Founded August 1650 in Newcastle Upon Tyne by Sir Arthur Haselrig on the orders of Oliver Cromwell as the Regiment of Cuirassiers, the regiment became the Earl of Oxford's Regiment during the reign of...
. Inclement weather prevented the attendance of King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
. Instead the guest of honour was the Duke of York
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
. Other guests present included Baron Wigram
Clive Wigram, 1st Baron Wigram
Clive Wigram, 1st Baron Wigram GCB, GCVO, CSI, PC , was a British soldier and court official. He was Private Secretary to the Sovereign from 1931 to 1936....
, Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey
Lionel Halsey
Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey GCMG GCVO KCIE CB ADC was a British Royal Navy officer and courtier.-Early life and career:...
, Austrian envoy Baron von Franckenstein
Georg von und zu Franckenstein
Georg Freiherr von und zu Franckenstein was the eldest son of Karl Baron von und zu Franckenstein and his wife, Elma née Countess von Schönborn-Wiesentheid and a member of the Franckenstein family.thumb|Sir George FranckensteinHis younger brother was the composer and General Intendant of Munich...
and the West Indies cricket team.
The Manchester City line-up contained two survivors from the 1926 team, Sam Cowan
Sam Cowan
Samuel Cowan was an English football player and manager. A relative latecomer to the sport, Cowan did not play football until he was 17 and was 22 by the time he turned professional...
and Jimmy McMullan
Jimmy McMullan
Jimmy McMullan was a Scottish football player and manager. McMullan won 16 Scotland caps as a player at half-back and was part of the famous "Wembley Wizards" side of 1928.-Early life:...
. The only Everton player with cup final experience was Tommy Johnson, who also played for Manchester City in the 1926 final. He represented the Manchester club between 1919 and 1930, and at the time of the 1933 final was Manchester City's all-time highest goalscorer.
Both teams usually wore blue, causing a colour clash. The competition rules required both teams to wear alternative colours. For the first time in a cup final, the players wore numbered shirts. Everton were numbered 1–11, and Manchester City 12–22. Everton goalkeeper Sagar wore 1, with the forwards bearing the higher numbers. Manchester City were the reverse. Forward Brook wore 12, through to goalkeeper Langford who wore 22.
Match
Each team played the formation typical of the era: two full-backs, three half-backs and five forwards. With Tilson absent from the Manchester City line-up, Alec HerdAlec Herd
Alec Herd was a Scottish professional footballer. Born in Bowhill, Scotland, he played as a forward for Hamilton Academicals, Manchester City and Stockport County.-Early life:...
moved across to Tilson's usual centre-forward position, and Bobby Marshall
Bobby Marshall (footballer)
Robert Samuel Marshall was a professional footballer who played for Sunderland, Manchester City and Stockport County....
was selected at inside-right.
Manchester City had the first attack of the match, but it came to nothing. Soon Everton began to dominate the match, with Dean frequently involved in the attacking play. Several Everton attacks came on their left flank. Stein caused Manchester City right-back Sid Cann
Sid Cann
Sydney Thomas Cann was an English professional football defender and football manager. He was capped twice by England at Schools level.-Playing career:...
problems, and Cann was forced to concede a corner kick on several occasions. Just after the half-hour Everton had their first shot on target, when Stein's effort was saved by Langford. Another chance quickly arrived. Stein's cross passed in front of goal, but Dean was unable to connect with the ball. Two minutes later Manchester City goalkeeper Langford attempted to catch a cross from Britton, but dropped the ball under pressure from Dean. The ball fell into the path of Stein, who put the ball into the empty net to give Everton the lead. At half-time Everton led 1–0.
Everton continued to control the game in the second half. Manchester City took shots from long range, but none required Sagar to make a save. Seven minutes into the second half, Langford again failed to catch a Britton cross, and Dean charged to the net. Dean, ball and goalkeeper all landed in the goal, making the score 2–0. Manchester City then made a few fruitless attacks. As was the case throughout the game, the Everton defence outplayed the Manchester City forwards. The Manchester Guardian singled out Warney Cresswell
Warney Cresswell
Warneford "Warney" Cresswell was an English professional footballer, who helped Everton win the Football League championship twice and the FA Cup. His ability and talents earned him the sobriquet "The Prince of Full Backs" and helped him win seven caps for England...
for particular praise, describing his performance as "an almost perfect display". Ten minutes from time a Dunn header from a corner made the score 3–0 to Everton. Just before the end Everton's Johnson had a chance to make it 4–0, but the referee blew his whistle for full-time before Johnson could take his shot.
Match details
| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> | Everton: | ||
| 1 | Ted Sagar Ted Sagar Edward "Ted" Sagar played football for Everton and England.He was known as a fearless goalkeeper of great ability. He was quite light in an era when goalkeepers were barged into more often than today. He joined Everton as an apprentice in 1929 after playing for Thorne Colliery in Yorkshire and... |
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| 2 |  Billy CookBilly Cook (Northern Irish footballer) William Cook was a Northern Irish professional football player and manager. He capped 15 times for Northern Ireland.... |
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| 3 | Warney Cresswell Warney Cresswell Warneford "Warney" Cresswell was an English professional footballer, who helped Everton win the Football League championship twice and the FA Cup. His ability and talents earned him the sobriquet "The Prince of Full Backs" and helped him win seven caps for England... |
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| 4 | Cliff Britton Cliff Britton Clifford Samuel Britton was a footballer and football manager. He was born 29 August 1909 in Hanham in Bristol and died 1 December 1975.-Playing career:... |
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| 5 | Tommy White Tommy White (footballer born 1908) Thomas Angus "Tommy" White was an English footballer who started his career as a centre-forward before moving to centre-half, where he played for Everton in the 1933 FA Cup Final as well as making one appearance for England.-Football career:White was born in the Pendleton area of Manchester and... |
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| 6 | Jock Thomson Jock Thomson John Ross "Jock" Thomson was a Scottish football player and manager.Thomson, a wing-half, started his career with Thornton Rangers in his native Fife, before moving to Dundee, where he played for four years. In 1929 he moved to Everton. His Everton career had an inauspicious start, with the club... |
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| 7 | Albert Geldard Albert Geldard Albert Geldard was an English professional footballer who played as an outside right for Bradford Park Avenue, Everton, Bolton Wanderers and Darwen. At Everton he won the FA Cup Final in 1933. He made four appearances for England during 1933–1937... |
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| 8 | James Dunn James Dunn (Scottish footballer) James "Jimmy" Dunn was a Scottish professional international footballer, most famous for being part of the 1928 Wembley Wizards side.... |
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| 9 | Dixie Dean Dixie Dean William Ralph Dean , better known as Dixie Dean, was an English football player. Dean originally started his career with Birkenhead based Tranmere Rovers before moving on to Everton, the club he had supported as a child, where he became one of the most prolific goal-scorers in English football... (c) |
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| 10 | Tommy Johnson |
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| 11 | Jimmy Stein Jimmy Stein James "Jimmy" Stein was a Scottish professional association footballer who played as a winger. Stein was a model professional who had the distinction of scoring Everton's first-ever goal at Wembley when he netted in the 1933 FA Cup Final... |
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| Manager: | |||
| None - team selection made in consultation with Dean | |||
Len LangfordLen Langford
Leonard Langford was an English footballer. His regular position was as a goalkeeper. He was born in Alfreton, Derbyshire. He played for Manchester City, Manchester United, and Nottingham Forest.-External links:*...
Sid CannSid Cann
Sydney Thomas Cann was an English professional football defender and football manager. He was capped twice by England at Schools level.-Playing career:...
Bill Dale Matt BusbyMatt Busby
Sir Alexander Matthew "Matt" Busby, CBE, KCSG was a Scottish football player and manager, most noted for managing Manchester United between 1945 and 1969 and again for the second half of the 1970–1971 season...
Sam CowanSam Cowan
Samuel Cowan was an English football player and manager. A relative latecomer to the sport, Cowan did not play football until he was 17 and was 22 by the time he turned professional...
(c)
Jackie BrayJackie Bray
John Bray was an English football player who played in the left half position. He won 6 caps for England between 1934 and 1937.-Playing career:...
Ernie ToselandErnie Toseland
Ernie Toseland was an English footballer who played in the outside right position. He has been described as 'a flying winger – football's Jesse Owens'.-Early life:Toseland was born in Northampton in 1905...
Bobby MarshallBobby Marshall (footballer)
Robert Samuel Marshall was a professional footballer who played for Sunderland, Manchester City and Stockport County....
Alec HerdAlec Herd
Alec Herd was a Scottish professional footballer. Born in Bowhill, Scotland, he played as a forward for Hamilton Academicals, Manchester City and Stockport County.-Early life:...
Jimmy McMullanJimmy McMullan
Jimmy McMullan was a Scottish football player and manager. McMullan won 16 Scotland caps as a player at half-back and was part of the famous "Wembley Wizards" side of 1928.-Early life:...
Eric BrookEric Brook
Eric Fred Brook was an English footballer who played in the outside left position. He is the all time record goalscorer for Manchester City in all competitions and was an England international. Brook was a muscular player with 'one of the fiercest shots in pre-war football' and was a good penalty...
Wilf WildWilf Wild
Wilfred Wild was a British football manager who served as manager of Manchester City from 1932 to 1946.Wild first joined Manchester City in 1920 as an assistant to Ernest Mangnall, primarily assisting in administrative matters. Mangnall held the position of secretary-manager, meaning he was...
Post-match
Everton captain Dixie Dean led his team to the Royal Box and received the cup from the Duke of York. Everton returned to Liverpool on the Monday evening, and paraded the city in the same horse-drawn carriage used in the celebrations of their previous cup win in 1906. The players attended a reception at the town hall, where large crowds greeted them. After the reception the cup was taken to Goodison Park for public viewing.Newsreels of the final featured post-match toasts by the two captains. First Dixie Dean, raising his glass, said "Here's to Lancashire, and may the cup stay in Lancashire. If Everton don't win it, may another Lancashire club win it." Cowan replied "I hope the next Lancashire club that wins it is Manchester City, my club". The following year's final made the captains' remarks look perceptive. Cowan and his Manchester City team returned, and beat Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
2–1 to win the 1934 cup. Both Manchester City and Everton also went on to win the league championship later in the decade; Manchester City in 1937, and Everton in 1939.