The 1938/39 FA Cup was the final complete edition of the competition before the outbreak of the Second World War. It delivered giant-killing opportunities, lengthy replay battles and a memorable Wembley upset, making programmes from the tournament particularly attractive to collectors.
The surviving issues trace the competition from its earlier stages through to important ties involving leading Football League clubs. Matches such as Stockport County against Walthamstow Avenue capture the romance of non-league teams challenging established opposition, while Runcorn’s meeting with holders Preston North End provides another evocative example of the FA Cup’s enduring appeal.
Several ties required replays, including Ipswich Town’s third-round meeting with Aston Villa and Walthamstow Avenue’s contest against Stockport. Elsewhere, Liverpool defeated Stockport 5–1, Sunderland overcame Middlesbrough, and the competition gradually narrowed towards its decisive stages.
Wolverhampton Wanderers entered the final as strong favourites after finishing second in the First Division and defeating Grimsby Town 5–0 in the semi-final. Portsmouth, however, produced an outstanding performance at Wembley to win 4–1 and lift the FA Cup for the first time.
Because the tournament was suspended during the war, Portsmouth remained holders until competitive FA Cup football resumed in 1945/46. This gives programmes from the 1938/39 competition additional historical importance. Featuring team selections, club notes, advertisements and match details, these increasingly scarce issues preserve the story of the last FA Cup played to completion in peacetime for seven years.
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Stockport v Walthamstow 10.12.1938 2nd rd 0-0
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Walthamstow v Stockport 15.12.1938 - FA Cup 2nd Round Replay (1-3)
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Barnsley v Stockport 07.01.1939 3rd rd 1-2
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Blackpool v Sheffield Utd 07.01.1939 3rd rd 1-2
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Middlesbrough v Bolton 07.01.1939 3rd rd 1-0
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Runcorn v Preston 07.01.1939 - 3rd Rd nonleague v cupholders 2-4
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Ipswich v Aston Villa 11.01.1939 3rd rd rep 1-2
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Middlesbrough v Sunderland 21.01.1939 4th rd 0-2
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Liverpool v Stockport 21.01.1939 4th rd 5-1
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Preston v Aston Villa 21.01.1939 4th rd 2-0
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West Ham v Spurs 02.02.1939 4th rd 2nd rep 2-1
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Sheffield Utd v Grimsby 11.02.1939 5th rd 0-0
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Sunderland v Blackburn 11.02.1939 - FA Cup 5th Round 1-1
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Blackburn v Sunderland 16.02.1939 - FA Cup 5th Round Replay 0-0
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Sunderland v Blackburn 20.02.1939 5th rd 2nd rep 0-1
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Wolves v Everton 04.03.1939 6th rd top two. 2-0
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Blackburn v Huddersfield 09.03.1939 6th rd rep 1-2
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Portsmouth v Huddersfield 25.03.1939 Semi Final 2-1
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Wolves v Grimsby 25.03.1939 Semi Final 5-0
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FA Cup Final - Portsmouth v Wolves 29.04.1939 hot favourites lose 4-1. The monkey gland injections dont work.
