FA Cup Final 1927
Encyclopedia
The 1927 FA Cup Final was won by Cardiff City
, who beat Arsenal
1–0. It is most remembered for Arsenal goalkeeper Dan Lewis
's mistake which led to the only goal of the game. It was also the first ever Cup Final to be broadcast by BBC Radio
. Commentators were Derek McCulloch
and George Allison
, who would later manage Arsenal.
, two Second Division
sides, eight non-league sides and amateur team Northern Nomads
to form 76 teams, or 38 ties, in the First Round. These teams were whittled down to 19 after the Second Round. Here, they were joined by 42 of the 44 First
and Second Division clubs, plus two Third Division sides and amateur side Corinthian, who had been given byes. This made the 64 teams that were necessary in the Third Round of the Tournament. From there on, the total number of teams were 32 (Fourth Round), 16 (Fifth Round), 8 (Sixth Round), 4 (Semi-final), and then 2 (Final).
, started their campaign at home to Aston Villa
. After a 2–1 win, they continued northwards to play Darlington
. Following a 2–0 away win, they faced their sternest test yet, an away game to last year's champions Bolton
. Following a shock 2–0 away win, Cardiff were pitted away again against Chelsea
. After a drab 0–0 at Stamford Bridge, Cardiff won the replay 3–2 at home. In the semi-finals Cardiff were drawn against Reading
at Molineux Stadium
. However, Reading were superbly edged out 3–0.
Arsenal started their tournament away to the 1925 champions, Sheffield United
. Following a 3–2 victory, Arsenal faced an away match against Port Vale
, who had won 5–1 in the previous round. After a 2–2 draw, Arsenal managed to win the replay 1–0. From here on, Arsenal did not have to leave London at all in the competition. A home tie against Liverpool
was resoundingly won 2–0, and in the Sixth Round the Gunners brushed Wolves
aside 2–1. The Semi-final was against Southampton
, who had also fallen at the Semi Finals in 1925. The game was played at Stamford Bridge
and Arsenal won 2–1, with goals from Hulme
and Buchan, with Southampton's reply coming from Rawlings
. Southampton were also denied two penalty appeals for fouls by Horace Cope.
". 1927 is the first and so far only time the FA Cup has not been won by an English club. Arsenal were by far and away the favourites for the tournament. Arsenal, who had just been taken over by the famous Herbert Chapman
, were expected to keep the cup in England and win by some margin.
The Cardiff goal remains one of the most famous FA Cup Final goals ever. The move started with a throw-in. Cardiff's Hughie Ferguson
received the ball and had little space to run or make a pass, thus instead he attempted a pot-shot at goal. The ball ran low across the ground, but Arsenal goalkeeper Dan Lewis had the shot well covered. He knelt down and attempted to gather the ball. However, as he did so, the ball squirmed out of Lewis' hands and slipped in between the crook of his left elbow and body. With a couple of Cardiff City forwards closing in, Lewis desperately tried to reclaim the ball but only succeeded in knocking it into the net with his elbow. Lewis later blamed the error on his jersey, which being brand new was greasy and made it difficult to grip the ball.
Cardiff's Ernie Curtis, who died in November 1992 at the age of 85, was the last surviving player from the final.
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ARSENAL:
|
GK
Dan Lewis
DF
Tom Parker (c)
DF
Andy Kennedy
MF
Alf Baker
MF
Jack Butler
MF
Bob John
FW
Joe Hulme
FW
Charles Buchan
FW
Jimmy Brain
FR
Billy Blyth
FL
Sid Hoar
Manager:
Herbert Chapman
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
, who beat 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...
1–0. It is most remembered for Arsenal goalkeeper Dan Lewis
Dan Lewis (footballer)
Daniel "Dan" Lewis was a Welsh football goalkeeper, who is most notable for his time playing for Arsenal. He kept goal for Arsenal in the 1927 FA Cup Final where a mistake by him saw Cardiff City win the cup.-Playing career:...
's mistake which led to the only goal of the game. It was also the first ever Cup Final to be broadcast by BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
. Commentators were Derek McCulloch
Derek McCulloch
Derek Ivor Breashur McCulloch OBE was a BBC Radio presenter and producer, who is best remembered as "Uncle Mac" in Children's Favourites and Children's Hour and for playing 'Larry the Lamb' in Toytown.-Early life:...
and George Allison
George Allison
George Frederick Allison was an English football journalist, broadcaster and manager. He was the BBC's first sports commentator and Arsenal's second longest serving manager.-Journalism career:...
, who would later manage Arsenal.
Tournament layout
There was a new layout for the 1926–27 FA Cup. 552 teams entered the Cup. 462 of these had to participate in the qualifying rounds, where 25 survived to reach the First Round Proper. These 25 teams were joined by 40 clubs from the Third DivisionFootball League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
, two Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
sides, eight non-league sides and amateur team Northern Nomads
Northern Nomads F.C.
Northern Nomads F.C. was an English football club based in the Manchester area. Established around 1862, they were known as the "Nomads" or "Roaming Brigade" as they never possessed a home ground.-History:...
to form 76 teams, or 38 ties, in the First Round. These teams were whittled down to 19 after the Second Round. Here, they were joined by 42 of the 44 First
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
and Second Division clubs, plus two Third Division sides and amateur side Corinthian, who had been given byes. This made the 64 teams that were necessary in the Third Round of the Tournament. From there on, the total number of teams were 32 (Fourth Round), 16 (Fifth Round), 8 (Sixth Round), 4 (Semi-final), and then 2 (Final).
Route to the Final
Cardiff City, defeated finalists just two years earlier1925 FA Cup Final
The 1925 FA Cup Final was contested by Sheffield United and Cardiff City at Wembley Stadium. Sheffield United won by a single goal, scored by Fred Tunstall....
, started their campaign at home to 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...
. After a 2–1 win, they continued northwards to play Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
. Following a 2–0 away win, they faced their sternest test yet, an away game to last year's champions Bolton
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....
. Following a shock 2–0 away win, Cardiff were pitted away again against Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
. After a drab 0–0 at Stamford Bridge, Cardiff won the replay 3–2 at home. In the semi-finals Cardiff were drawn against Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
at Molineux Stadium
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...
. However, Reading were superbly edged out 3–0.
Arsenal started their tournament away to the 1925 champions, Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
. Following a 3–2 victory, Arsenal faced an away match against Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
, who had won 5–1 in the previous round. After a 2–2 draw, Arsenal managed to win the replay 1–0. From here on, Arsenal did not have to leave London at all in the competition. A home tie against Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
was resoundingly won 2–0, and in the Sixth Round the Gunners brushed Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
aside 2–1. The Semi-final was against Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
, who had also fallen at the Semi Finals in 1925. The game was played at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
and Arsenal won 2–1, with goals from Hulme
Joe Hulme
Joseph Harold Anthony "Joe" Hulme was an English footballer and cricketer.-Football career:Born in Stafford, Staffordshire Hulme usually played as a right-winger...
and Buchan, with Southampton's reply coming from Rawlings
Bill Rawlings
William Ernest "Bill" Rawlings was an English footballer.-Playing career:Rawlings' career started in 1918 with Southampton, he stayed ten years with the club, from 1918 to 1928. His 193 goals places him third on the club's list of all-time goalscorers, behind Mick Channon and Matthew Le Tissier...
. Southampton were also denied two penalty appeals for fouls by Horace Cope.
The Final and the "Howler"
The final is remembered as the time that "The Cup was let out of EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
". 1927 is the first and so far only time the FA Cup has not been won by an English club. Arsenal were by far and away the favourites for the tournament. Arsenal, who had just been taken over by the famous Herbert Chapman
Herbert Chapman
Herbert Chapman was an English association football player and manager. Though he had an undistinguished playing career, he went on to become one of the most successful and influential managers in early 20th century English football, before his sudden death in 1934.As a player, Chapman played for...
, were expected to keep the cup in England and win by some margin.
The Cardiff goal remains one of the most famous FA Cup Final goals ever. The move started with a throw-in. Cardiff's Hughie Ferguson
Hughie Ferguson
Hugh "Hughie" Ferguson was a Scottish footballer. He is only one of seven men in the entire history of the Football and Scottish Football Leagues to have scored 350 League goals...
received the ball and had little space to run or make a pass, thus instead he attempted a pot-shot at goal. The ball ran low across the ground, but Arsenal goalkeeper Dan Lewis had the shot well covered. He knelt down and attempted to gather the ball. However, as he did so, the ball squirmed out of Lewis' hands and slipped in between the crook of his left elbow and body. With a couple of Cardiff City forwards closing in, Lewis desperately tried to reclaim the ball but only succeeded in knocking it into the net with his elbow. Lewis later blamed the error on his jersey, which being brand new was greasy and made it difficult to grip the ball.
Cardiff's Ernie Curtis, who died in November 1992 at the age of 85, was the last surviving player from the final.
Match details
| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> | CARDIFF CITY: | ||
| GK | Tom Farquharson Tom Farquharson Tom Farquharson was an Irish footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Cardiff City F.C. between 1921 and 1934. A dual internationalist, he also played for both Ireland teams - - the FAI XI and the IFA XI. In 1927 Farquharson was a member of the Cardiff City team that became the only non-English... |
||
| DF | James Nelson |
||
| DF | Tom Watson Tom Watson (footballer born 1902) Thomas Houston "Tom" Watson was an Irish international footballer. A defender, he appeared for Cardiff City in the 1927 FA Cup Final.-Career:... |
||
| DF | Fred Keenor (c) Fred Keenor Frederick Charles 'Fred' Keenor was a Welsh professional footballer and Wales international best known for captaining the Cardiff City team to success in the 1927 FA Cup Final... |
||
| MF | Tom Sloan Tom Sloan (footballer born 1900) Thomas Milne "Tom" Sloan was an Irish international footballer. A midfielder, he appeared for Cardiff City in the 1927 FA Cup Final. He was born in Portadown.... |
||
| MF | Billy Hardy Billy Hardy (footballer) William "Billy" Hardy was a former English footballer probably most famous for playing in the 1927 FA Cup Final for Cardiff City-Career:... |
||
| MF | Ernie Curtis Ernie Curtis Ernest Robert "Ernie" Curtis was a Welsh professional footballer. During his career he made over 250 appearances in The Football League and was the youngest ever winner of the FA Cup to that date when he played in the 1927 FA Cup Final for Cardiff City aged 19 years and 317 days.-Club career:A... |
||
| FW | Sam Irving Sam Irving Samuel Johnstone Irving was an Irish footballer and manager.-Career:Irving began his footballing career in the North-East of England, playing for a number of non-League clubs, and in 1911 having an unsuccessful trial with Newcastle United... |
||
| FW | Hughie Ferguson Hughie Ferguson Hugh "Hughie" Ferguson was a Scottish footballer. He is only one of seven men in the entire history of the Football and Scottish Football Leagues to have scored 350 League goals... |
||
| FR | Len Davies |
||
| FL | George McLachlan George McLachlan George Herbert McLachlan was an FA Cup-winning Scottish footballer and manager. He was born in Glasgow and played as an outside left or at wing half.-Early years:... |
||
| Manager: | |||
| Fred Stewart Fred Stewart (football manager) Frederick Stewart was an English football manager. Despite managing for 39 years he only ever took charge of two clubs, Stockport County and Cardiff City, and he holds the record for longest serving manager in the history of both clubs.... |
|||
Dan LewisDan Lewis (footballer)
Daniel "Dan" Lewis was a Welsh football goalkeeper, who is most notable for his time playing for Arsenal. He kept goal for Arsenal in the 1927 FA Cup Final where a mistake by him saw Cardiff City win the cup.-Playing career:...
Tom Parker (c)Tom Parker (footballer)
Thomas Robert "Tom" Parker was an English football player and manager.-Southampton:Born in Woolston, Southampton, Parker began playing with local sides, such as Sholing Rangers and Sholing Athletic, before joining Southern League side Southampton as an amateur in 1918, just before the end of the...
Andy Kennedy Alf BakerAlf Baker
Alfred Baker was an English footballer.Born in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, Baker was originally a miner and played for various clubs in Derbyshire as an amateur, including Eastwood Rangers. During World War I he guested for Chesterfield, Crystal Palace and Huddersfield Town, although these appearances...
Jack ButlerJack Butler (footballer)
John Dennis "Jack" Butler was an English footballer.-Football career:Born in Colombo to English parents, Butler moved back to Britain as a child. He played for Dartford and Fulham Thursday as a youth, before signing for Fulham in 1913 and moving to Arsenal in 1914...
Bob JohnBob John
Robert Frederick "Bob" John was a Welsh football player and coach.Born in Barry, John played for Barry Town and Caerphilly, before joining English club Arsenal, who signed him amongst stiff competition, in January 1922 for a fee of £750...
Joe HulmeJoe Hulme
Joseph Harold Anthony "Joe" Hulme was an English footballer and cricketer.-Football career:Born in Stafford, Staffordshire Hulme usually played as a right-winger...
Charles Buchan Jimmy BrainJimmy Brain
James "Jimmy" Brain was an English football player.Born in Bristol, Brain started his career playing in Wales, having an unsuccessful trial at Cardiff City, before gaining a regular place at Ton Pentre. In 1923, he moved to Arsenal, and in his eight years with the Gunners became one of the club's...
Billy BlythBilly Blyth
William Naismith "Billy" Blyth was a Scottish footballer.Born in Dalkeith, Midlothian, Blyth played as a schoolboy for local junior side Wemyss Athletic. He was briefly on the books of Manchester City before signing for Arsenal in May 1914...
Sid HoarSid Hoar
Sydney Walter "Syd" Hoar was an English footballer.Hoar was born in Leagrave, Luton, Bedfordshire, and joined his local side, Luton Town as a fifteen-year-old in 1911. He was a regular in the Hatters youth team up until the outbreak of World War I, when he joined the Army and served in the...
Herbert ChapmanHerbert Chapman
Herbert Chapman was an English association football player and manager. Though he had an undistinguished playing career, he went on to become one of the most successful and influential managers in early 20th century English football, before his sudden death in 1934.As a player, Chapman played for...
External links
- Match report at www.fa-cupfinals.co.uk
- FA Cup Final lineups
- BBC Wales on Air - 1927 FA Cup Final links to video footage of the goal.