1972–73 FA Cup

Most participating clubs that were not members of the Football League competed in the qualifying rounds to secure one of 28 places available in the first round. The winners from the fourth qualifying round 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 were appearing in the competition proper for the first time. Of the others, Hayes had last featured at this stage in 1964–65, Banbury United had last done so in 1961-62, Barnstaple Town had last done so in 1959-60 and Lancaster City had last done so in 1947-48. In a season in which only three non-league clubs managed to progress past the second round, Walton & Hersham played ten matches across seven rounds of the tournament. They defeated Metropolitan Police (after a replay), Staines Town, Leytonstone (after another replay), Wycombe Wanderers, Dartford (after a replay) and Exeter City before going out to Margate at Stompond Lane. ==Results==

First round proper At this stage the 48 clubs from the Football League Third and Fourth Divisions joined the non-league clubs who came through the qualifying rounds. To complete this round, four additional non-league clubs were given byes to this stage. Stafford Rangers and Barnet were the finalists from the previous season's FA Trophy, while Hendon and Enfield were the finalists from the previous season's FA Amateur Cup. Matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 18 November 1972. Nine matches were drawn and went to replays, while Scunthorpe United and Hartlepool needed a second replay which was played at Roker Park. Second round proper The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 9 December 1972, with the exception of the Walsall–Charlton Athletic game which was played three days later. Five matches were drawn, with replays taking place later the same week. Third round proper The 44 First and Second Division clubs entered the competition at this stage. The matches were scheduled Saturday, 13 January 1973, with the exception of the Reading–Doncaster Rovers game, which was played on the following Wednesday. Eleven matches were drawn, of which two required a second replay. The first attempted replay between Nottingham Forest and West Bromwich Albion was abandoned in the 81st minute with the score at 1–1 due to fog at the City Ground. It was successfully re-staged six days later but was drawn 0–0, necessitating a second replay at Filbert Street. Barnet, Chelmsford City and Margate were the last non-league sides left in the competition. Fourth round proper The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 3 February 1973. Five matches were drawn, of which two required a second replay. Fifth round proper The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 24 February 1973 with one replay played three days later. Sixth round proper The four quarter-final ties were played on the 17 March 1973. There was one replay three days later. Semi-finals The semi-final matches were played on Saturday, 7 April 1973 with no replays being needed. Sunderland and Leeds United won their respective matches to go on to the final at Wembley. {{football box {{football box Third place playoff Between 1970 and 1974, a third place playoff between the two losing semi-finalists was held. Final 's goal during the final The final took place on Saturday, 5 May 1973 at Wembley and ended in a victory for Sunderland over Leeds United by one goal to nil. The attendance was 100,000. {{football box ==References==