FA Cup Final 1934
Encyclopedia
The 1934 FA Cup Final was won by Manchester City
in a 2-1 win over Portsmouth
. The cup is most remembered for a young Frank Swift
's heroics in goal and the predictions of City forward Fred Tilson
. The match was also refereed by future FIFA president Stanley Rous
, in his penultimate game as an official.
. Blackburn, although cup winners in 1928
, had disappointed since. After a 3–1 home win, City were drawn against Hull City
. They drew away, 2–2, but the Blues resoundingly won the replay 4–1. Sheffield Wednesday
were the opponents in the Fifth Round. Once again a score draw was fought out. However, Manchester City won the replay by two goals to none. The Sixth Round was a home tie with Stoke City
, a match seen by 84,569 fans, which is still the record highest attendance at an English club ground. The Potters were beaten 1–0, setting up an intriguing semi-final against Aston Villa
, who had knocked out the three-time champions Arsenal
in the previous round. The game was played at Leeds Road in Huddersfield
, and produced a big shock. A lot of people were expecting a close game, but the Blues romped home with a 6–1 thrashing.
Portsmouth started away to Manchester United
. Following a 1–1 draw, Portsmouth won the Fratton Park
replay 4–1. Under the guidance of Jack Tinn
, Portsmouth managed to only concede five goals in the whole competition, two of those in the First Round. After defeating Grimsby
and Swansea
2–0 and 1–0 respectively, they faced Bolton Wanderers
in the quarter-finals. Bolton had scored 12 goals in three FA Cup games thus far, however they could not get a goal against Portsmouth, who won emphatically, 3–0. Leicester
were the opponents in the Birmingham
semi-final, which was won 4–1.
. The storm made the ground very sluggish and slow. A shot by Rutherford span away from Frank Swift and the ball curled very nicely in the corner of the net.
At half time, Frank was blaming himself for what had happened with the goal. He was the youngest player in the team and felt he had let the team down. However, Man City's bustling forward Tilson came up to him and said "You don't need to worry, I'll plonk (score) two in (the) next half".
With just seventeen minutes to go, Jimmy Allen, Portsmouth's tall defender, left the field injured. Man City now had a man advantage. Busby took a throw in and played the ball to Brook. Brook played the ball through to Tilson, who had plenty of time to place the ball home. Gilfallan, the Portsmouth goalkeeper was out of place and Tilson had equalised. There was more to come however, as, with three minutes to go, Tilson latched on to a cross from Herd, to rifle the ball home. True to his word, Tilson had notched two goals.
At the other end of the pitch, Frank knew that all his team had to do was hold on for another two minutes and they would win. A photographer behind the goal was making him more nervous by counting down the seconds on his watch. When the game ended, Frank fainted in relief. The young goalkeeper went on to captain England
in the future, his goalkeeping error forgotten.
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PORTSMOUTH:
1
Jock Gilfillan
2
Alec Mackie
3
Billy Smith
4
Jimmy Nichol
5
Jimmy Allen (c)
6
David Thackeray
7
Fred Worrall
8
Jack Smith
9
Jack Weddle
10
Jimmy Easson
11
Septimus Rutherford
Manager:
Jack Tinn
MATCH RULES
1–3 Manchester City
Round 4: Hull City
2–2 Manchester City
Round 5: Sheffield Wednesday
2–2 Manchester City
Round 6: Manchester City 1–0 Stoke City
Semi-Final: Manchester City 6–1 Aston Villa
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1–1 Portsmouth
Round 4: Portsmouth 2–0 Grimsby Town
Round 5: Swansea Town
0–1 Portsmouth
Round 6: Bolton Wanderers
0–3 Portsmouth
Semi-Final: Portsmouth 4–1 Leicester City
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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...
in a 2-1 win over 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...
. The cup is most remembered for a young Frank Swift
Frank Swift
Frank Victor Swift was an English footballer, who played as a goalkeeper for Manchester City and England. After starting his career with local clubs near his home town of Blackpool, in 1932 he was signed by First Division Manchester City, with whom he played his entire professional career.Swift...
's heroics in goal and the predictions of City forward 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...
. The match was also refereed by future FIFA president Stanley Rous
Stanley Rous
Sir Stanley Ford Rous, CBE was the 6th President of FIFA, serving from 1961 to 1974. He also served as secretary of the Football Association from 1934 to 1962 and was an international referee.-Early Life:...
, in his penultimate game as an official.
The tournament
The FA received 554 entrants for the 1933–34 tournament. As usual, these were whittled down to just 64 in the Third Round proper.Route to the final
Manchester City started off against Blackburn RoversBlackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
. Blackburn, although cup winners in 1928
1928 FA Cup Final
The 1928 FA Cup Final was contested by Blackburn Rovers and Huddersfield Town at Wembley Stadium. Blackburn won 3–1, with goals from Jack Roscamp and Tommy McLean...
, had disappointed since. After a 3–1 home win, City were drawn against Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
. They drew away, 2–2, but the Blues resoundingly won the replay 4–1. Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
were the opponents in the Fifth Round. Once again a score draw was fought out. However, Manchester City won the replay by two goals to none. The Sixth Round was a home tie with Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
, a match seen by 84,569 fans, which is still the record highest attendance at an English club ground. The Potters were beaten 1–0, setting up an intriguing semi-final against Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, who had knocked out the three-time champions 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...
in the previous round. The game was played at Leeds Road in 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....
, and produced a big shock. A lot of people were expecting a close game, but the Blues romped home with a 6–1 thrashing.
Portsmouth started away to Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
. Following a 1–1 draw, Portsmouth won the Fratton Park
Fratton Park
Fratton Park is a football stadium in the English city-port of Portsmouth. It has been the home of professional club Portsmouth F.C. since its construction in 1898.-Description:...
replay 4–1. Under the guidance of Jack Tinn
Jack Tinn
Jack Tinn was the manager of the English football club Portsmouth F.C. from 1927-1947. Under Tinn's stewardship Portsmouth won the FA Cup for the first time in their history when they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-1 at Wembley in 1939. The FA Cup was kept safe under his bed throughout the war...
, Portsmouth managed to only concede five goals in the whole competition, two of those in the First Round. After defeating Grimsby
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
and Swansea
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
2–0 and 1–0 respectively, they faced 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....
in the quarter-finals. Bolton had scored 12 goals in three FA Cup games thus far, however they could not get a goal against Portsmouth, who won emphatically, 3–0. Leicester
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...
were the opponents in the Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
semi-final, which was won 4–1.
The final
The 1934 final was played in a thunderstormThunderstorm
A thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm, a lightning storm, thundershower or simply a storm is a form of weather characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere known as thunder. The meteorologically assigned cloud type associated with the...
. The storm made the ground very sluggish and slow. A shot by Rutherford span away from Frank Swift and the ball curled very nicely in the corner of the net.
At half time, Frank was blaming himself for what had happened with the goal. He was the youngest player in the team and felt he had let the team down. However, Man City's bustling forward Tilson came up to him and said "You don't need to worry, I'll plonk (score) two in (the) next half".
With just seventeen minutes to go, Jimmy Allen, Portsmouth's tall defender, left the field injured. Man City now had a man advantage. Busby took a throw in and played the ball to Brook. Brook played the ball through to Tilson, who had plenty of time to place the ball home. Gilfallan, the Portsmouth goalkeeper was out of place and Tilson had equalised. There was more to come however, as, with three minutes to go, Tilson latched on to a cross from Herd, to rifle the ball home. True to his word, Tilson had notched two goals.
At the other end of the pitch, Frank knew that all his team had to do was hold on for another two minutes and they would win. A photographer behind the goal was making him more nervous by counting down the seconds on his watch. When the game ended, Frank fainted in relief. The young goalkeeper went on to captain 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...
in the future, his goalkeeping error forgotten.
Match details
| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> | MANCHESTER CITY: | ||||
| 1 | Frank Swift Frank Swift Frank Victor Swift was an English footballer, who played as a goalkeeper for Manchester City and England. After starting his career with local clubs near his home town of Blackpool, in 1932 he was signed by First Division Manchester City, with whom he played his entire professional career.Swift... |
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| 2 | Laurie Barnett Laurie Barnett Laurence Hector "Laurie" Barnett was an English footballer. He began his career with Bradford Park Avenue in 1920. After 33 League appearances for the club, he had a spell with Gainsborough Trinity. In 1924 he joined Barnsley, for whom he made 28 appearances in the League... |
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| 3 | Bill Dale |
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| 4 | Matt Busby Matt 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... |
||||
| 5 | 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... (c) |
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| 6 | Jackie Bray Jackie 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:... |
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| 7 | Ernie Toseland Ernie 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... |
||||
| 8 | Bobby Marshall Bobby Marshall (footballer) Robert Samuel Marshall was a professional footballer who played for Sunderland, Manchester City and Stockport County.... |
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| 9 | Alec Herd Alec 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:... |
||||
| 10 | Eric Brook Eric 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... |
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| 11 | 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... |
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| 99 |  I LOVE CHIPOTLE GODDAMITT!!! |
Manager: | |||
| Wilf Wild Wilf 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... |
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Jock GilfillanJock Gilfillan
John "Jock" Gilfillan was a Scottish-born footballer who played as a Goalkeeper in the 1920s and 1930s, notably with Portsmouth....
Alec MackieAlec Mackie
John Alexander "Alec" Mackie was an Irish footballer who played as a defender for various clubs, including Arsenal and Portsmouth in the English Football League.-Football career:...
Billy Smith Jimmy NicholJimmy Nichol
James Baillie "Jimmy" Nichol was a Scottish association football player. He played professionally for Gillingham and Portsmouth between 1925 and 1938. In total he made over 400 appearances in the Football League.-References:...
Jimmy Allen (c) David Thackeray Fred WorrallFred Worrall
Frederick J. "Freddie" Worrall was an English footballer born in Warrington, Lancashire, who played as an outside right in the Football League for Oldham Athletic, Portsmouth and Crewe Alexandra. He was capped twice for the England national football team...
Jack SmithJack Smith (footballer born 1898)
John William Smith, known as Jack Smith was an English international footballer, who played as an inside left.-Career:...
Jack WeddleJack Weddle
John Robson "Jack" Weddle in Whitburn, South Tyneside was a former Portsmouth centre forward who played during the interwar and post war period. He is best remembered for Portsmouth's Cup run in the 1933/34 season, scoring a hat-trick against Birmingham in front of a 66,000-strong crowd to take...
Jimmy EassonJimmy Easson
James Ferrier "Jimmy" Easson was a Scottish footballer who played as an inside-forward for Portsmouth in the English Football League, helping them reach the FA Cup Final in 1934...
Septimus Rutherford Jack TinnJack Tinn
Jack Tinn was the manager of the English football club Portsmouth F.C. from 1927-1947. Under Tinn's stewardship Portsmouth won the FA Cup for the first time in their history when they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-1 at Wembley in 1939. The FA Cup was kept safe under his bed throughout the war...
MATCH RULES
- 90 minutes.
- 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary.
- Replay if scores still level.
Manchester City
Round 3: Blackburn RoversBlackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
1–3 Manchester City
Round 4: Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
2–2 Manchester City
- Replay: Manchester City 4–1 Hull CityHull City A.F.C.Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
Round 5: Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
2–2 Manchester City
- Replay: Manchester City 2–0 Sheffield WednesdaySheffield Wednesday F.C.Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
Round 6: Manchester City 1–0 Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
Semi-Final: Manchester City 6–1 Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
-
- (at Leeds RoadLeeds RoadLeeds 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...
)
- (at Leeds Road
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Portsmouth
Round 3: Manchester UnitedManchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
1–1 Portsmouth
- Replay: Portsmouth 4–1 Manchester UnitedManchester United F.C.Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
Round 4: Portsmouth 2–0 Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
Round 5: Swansea Town
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
0–1 Portsmouth
Round 6: 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....
0–3 Portsmouth
Semi-Final: Portsmouth 4–1 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 St Andrew's)
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