View source for 1953 FA Cup final

{{short description|1953 UK football match}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox football match
|                   title = 1953 FA Cup final
|                   image = Old Wembley Stadium (external view).jpg
|              image_size = 200
|                   event = [[1952–53 FA Cup]]
|                   team1 = [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]]
|        team1association =
|              team1score = 4
|                   team2 = [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]]
|        team2association =
|              team2score = 3
|                 details =
|                    date = 2 May 1953
|                 stadium = [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]]
|                    city = [[London]]
|      man_of_the_match1a =
| man_of_the_match1atitle =
|      man_of_the_match1b =
| man_of_the_match1btitle =
|                 referee = [[Sandy Griffiths]] ([[Abertillery]])
|              attendance = 100,000
|                 weather =
|                previous = [[1952 FA Cup final|1952]]
|                    next = [[1954 FA Cup final|1954]]
}}
The '''1953 FA Cup final''', also known as the '''Matthews Final''',<ref name="bbc1321960"/> was the eighth to be held at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] after the [[Second World War]]. The [[Association football|football]] match was contested between [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]] and [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]], with Blackpool winning 4–3, equalling the record for the highest scoring FA Cup Final which had been set in [[1890 FA Cup final|the final of 1890]].<ref>{{cite web |first=James M. |last=Ross |title=England FA Challenge Cup Finals |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engcuphist.html |website=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |date=6 August 2020 |access-date=16 October 2020}}</ref> The match became famous for the performance of Blackpool winger [[Stanley Matthews]], after whom it was nicknamed. It was the third FA Cup Final (after those in 1890 and 1894) to feature a [[hat-trick#Association football|hat-trick]], scored by Blackpool's [[Stan Mortensen]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/news/2019/may/18/fa-cup-final-man-city-watford-180519 |title=Man City Emirates FA Cup To Complete Historic Domestic Treble |publisher= The Football Association |date=18 May 2019 |access-date=11 August 2021 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518202237/http://www.thefa.com/news/2019/may/18/fa-cup-final-man-city-watford-180519 |archive-date=18 May 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/raheem-sterlings-response-question-whether-16166667 |title=Raheem Sterling's response to question of whether he scored FA Cup final hat-trick |work=Mirror |last=Jones |first=Rich |date=18 May 2019 |access-date=11 August 2021 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520233324/https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/raheem-sterlings-response-question-whether-16166667 |archive-date=20 May 2019 }}</ref> Blackpool were making their third FA Cup final appearance in six years having been losing finalists twice, in [[1948 FA Cup final|1948]] and [[1951 FA Cup final|1951]].

In February 2010, the boots worn by Matthews in the match were auctioned at [[Bonhams]] in [[Chester]] for £38,400, to an undisclosed buyer<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/8534832.stm |title=Stanley Matthews' boots sold for £38,400 |work=BBC News |date=24 February 2010 |access-date=11 August 2021 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119163449/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/8534832.stm |archive-date=19 November 2021 }}</ref> and in November 2014 Matthews' winning medal was sold for £220,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29993650 |title=Sir Stanley Matthews FA Cup medal sells for £220,000 |work=BBC News |date=11 November 2014 |access-date=11 August 2021 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111070529/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29993650 |archive-date=11 November 2014 }}</ref> The match ball fetched £5,250 in 2018.<ref>{{cite news|title=1953 FA Cup final hat-trick football sells for £5,250|work=BBC News|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|date=22 February 2018|access-date=22 February 2018|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-43149941}}</ref>

==Road to Wembley==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:1953 FA Cup Final ticket.jpg|thumbnail|right|A 1953 FA Cup Final ticket]] -->
*'''Third round'''
**[[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] 1 Blackpool 2
**Bolton Wanderers 4 [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] 1
*'''Fourth round'''
**Blackpool 1 [[Huddersfield Town F.C.|Huddersfield Town]] 0
**Bolton Wanderers 1 [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]] 1 – Replay 2–2, 2nd replay 1–0
*'''Fifth round'''
**Blackpool 1 [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] 1 – Replay 2–1
**[[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]] 0 Bolton Wanderers 1
*'''Sixth round'''
**[[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] 1 Blackpool 2
**[[Gateshead A.F.C.|Gateshead]] 0 Bolton Wanderers 1
*'''Semi-final'''
**Blackpool 2 [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] 1
**Bolton Wanderers 4 [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] 3

==Match summary==
Matthews inspired his team to come from 3–1 down against Bolton Wanderers, to win 4–3, and on a personal note, he claimed the trophy that had eluded him in two previous finals. Despite the final being more famous for the heroics of Matthews, [[Stan Mortensen]] scored three goals for Blackpool on the day, becoming the first and only player to have scored an [[FA Cup Final]] [[Hat-trick#Association football|hat-trick]] at the original [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2020/may/02/blackpool-v-bolton-wanderers-1953-fa-cup-final-live|title =Blackpool 4-3 Bolton Wanderers: 1953 FA Cup final – as it happened|date=2 May 2020|work=The Guardian|access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref>	
[[Bill Perry (footballer)|Bill Perry]] scored the winning goal, following another Matthews' assist. [[Nat Lofthouse]], who scored Bolton's first goal, scored in every round of that year's FA Cup.<ref name="bbc1321960">
{{Cite news
  | title = 1953 – The Matthews Final
  | work = [[BBC Sport]]
  | date = 10 May 2001
  | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/1321960.stm
  | access-date = 25 September 2008}}</ref>
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:1953 final.jpg|thumbnail|left|The two teams and their managers walking out onto the pitch before kick-off.]] -->
Bolton took the lead after just 75 seconds with a Nat Lofthouse shot. Mortensen equalised after 35 minutes with a deflected "cross-shot". Four minutes later, Bolton took the lead again when [[Willie Moir]] outstripped Blackpool's goalkeeper [[George Farm]] after short crossing pass of [[Bobby Langton]] and Bolton went in at half-time 2–1 ahead. Ten minutes into the second half, [[Eric Bell (footballer, born 1929)|Eric Bell]], playing through injury with a torn hamstring, put Bolton further ahead, a lead they kept for 13 minutes. Then came the turnaround for which the match has become famous, when Matthews proved to be the inspiration for a Blackpool comeback. His cross from the right wing, with 22 minutes remaining, was met by Mortensen who netted his and Blackpool's second goal. Then, with less than two minutes remaining, Mortensen completed his hat-trick and Blackpool's comeback to equalise directly from a free-kick. Then, with just seconds remaining, Matthews again crossed from the right wing. His cross, which passed just behind Mortensen, was met by [[Bill Perry (footballer)|Bill Perry]], whose shot made the score 4–3 and won the match for ''the Seasiders''. Even Nat Lofthouse, in defeat, is said to have stood and applauded.<ref name="bbc1321960"/><ref name="fac-1953">{{Cite web
 |title=Wembley – Saturday 2nd May Blackpool 4 Bolton Wanderers 3
 |publisher=fa-cupfinals.co.uk
 |date=10 May 2001
 |url=http://www.fa-cupfinals.co.uk/1953.htm
 |accessdate=25 September 2008
 |url-status=dead
 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080122050521/http://www.fa-cupfinals.co.uk/1953.htm
 |archivedate=22 January 2008}}</ref>

===Coverage===
The match was considered the first major TV audience for a sporting event. Televisions had been bought or rented by many households for the forthcoming [[Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II|Coronation]] of Queen [[Elizabeth II]]. On Radio the match was broadcast in full on the BBC World Service and the second half on the domestic Light Programme. After this final proved to be so popular, the Cup Final was given its own standalone slot and broadcast in full on TV and radio.

==Match details==
{{football box
|date= 2 May 1953
|time= 15:00 [[British Summer Time|BST]]
|team1= [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]]
|score= 4–3
|report= [http://www.thefa.com/competitions/facompetitions/thefacup/history/historyofthefacup/1953blackpoolbolton (Report)]
|team2= [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]]
|goals1= [[Stan Mortensen|Mortensen]] {{goal|35||68||89}}<br />[[Bill Perry (footballer)|Perry]] {{goal|90+2}}
|goals2= [[Nat Lofthouse|Lofthouse]] {{goal|2}}<br />[[Willie Moir|Moir]] {{goal|39}}<br />[[Eric Bell (footballer, born 1929)|Bell]] {{goal|55}}
|stadium= [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]], [[London]]
|attendance= 100,000
|referee= [[Sandy Griffiths|B. M. Griffiths]] }}
{| width=92% |
|-
|{{Football kit
 | pattern_la =
 | pattern_b  = _collarwhite
 | pattern_ra =
 | pattern_so = _orangetop
 | leftarm    = F28500
 | body       = F28500
 | rightarm   = F28500
 | shorts     = FFFFFF
 | socks      = 000000
 | title      = Blackpool<br /> &nbsp;
}}
|{{Football kit
 | align = right
 | pattern_la =
 | pattern_b  = _collarwhite
 | pattern_ra =
 | pattern_sh = _whitesides
 | pattern_so = _hoops_white
 | leftarm    = FFFFFF
 | body       = FFFFFF
 | rightarm   = FFFFFF
 | shorts     = 000080
 | socks      = 000080
 | title      = Bolton Wanderers
}}
|}

{| width="100%"
|valign="top" width="40%"|
{| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
|colspan="4"|
|-
!width="25"| !!width="25"|
|-
|GK ||'''1''' ||{{Flag icon|SCO}} [[George Farm]]
|-
|RB ||'''2'''||{{Flag icon|ENG}} [[Eddie Shimwell]]
|-
|LB ||'''3'''||{{Flag icon|ENG}} [[Tommy Garrett (footballer)|Tommy Garrett]]
|-
|RH ||'''4''' ||{{Flag icon|SCO}} [[Ewan Fenton]]
|-
|CH ||'''5''' ||{{Flag icon|ENG}} [[Harry Johnston (footballer, born 1919)|Harry Johnston]] ([[Captain (association football)|c]])
|-
|LH ||'''6'''||{{Flag icon|ENG}} [[Cyril Robinson (footballer)|Cyril Robinson]]
|-
|OR ||'''7'''||{{Flag icon|ENG}} [[Stanley Matthews]]
|-
|IR ||'''8''' ||{{Flag icon|ENG}} [[Ernie Taylor (footballer, born 1925)|Ernie Taylor]]
|-
|CF ||'''9''' ||{{Flag icon|ENG}} [[Stan Mortensen]]
|-
|IL ||'''10'''||{{Flag icon|SCO}} [[Jackie Mudie]]
|-
|OL ||'''11'''||{{Flag icon|ENG}} [[Bill Perry (footballer)|Bill Perry]]
|-
|colspan=4|'''Manager:'''
|-
|colspan="4"|{{Flag icon|ENG}} [[Joe Smith (football forward, born 1889)|Joe Smith]]
|}
|valign="top"|[[File:Blackpool vs Bolton Wanderers 1953-05-02.svg|300px]]
|valign="top" width="50%"|
{| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align=center
|colspan="4"|
|-
!width="25"| !!width="25"|
|-
|GK ||'''1'''||{{Flag icon|ENG}} [[Stan Hanson]]
|-
|RB ||'''2'''||{{Flag icon|ENG}} [[John Ball (footballer, born 1925)|John Ball]]
|-
|LB ||'''3'''||{{Flag icon|ENG}} [[Ralph Banks (footballer)|Ralph Banks]]
|-
|RH ||'''4''' ||{{Flag icon|ENG}} [[Johnny Wheeler]]
|-
|CH ||'''5''' ||{{Flag icon|ENG}} [[Malcolm Barrass]]
|-
|LH ||'''6'''||{{Flag icon|ENG}} [[Eric Bell (footballer, born 1929)|Eric Bell]]
|-
|OR ||'''7''' ||{{Flag icon|ENG}} [[Doug Holden]]
|-
|IR ||'''8'''||{{Flag icon|SCO}} [[Willie Moir]] ([[Captain (association football)|c]])
|-
|CF ||'''9'''||{{Flag icon|ENG}} [[Nat Lofthouse]]
|-
|IL ||'''10'''||{{Flag icon|ENG}} [[Harold Hassall]]
|-
|OL ||'''11''' ||{{Flag icon|ENG}} [[Bobby Langton]]
|-
|colspan=4|'''Manager:'''
|-
|colspan="4"|{{Flag icon|ENG}} [[Bill Ridding]]
|}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100619172259/http://www.retrofootball.co.uk/1953-the-matthews-final-85.html 1953 FA Cup Final (Matthews Final) Match Report] at RetroFootball.co.uk
*[http://www.britishpathe.com/video/cup-final-blackpool-4-v-bolton-3 Original Pathe News coverage of the match]
*[https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2020/may/02/blackpool-v-bolton-wanderers-1953-fa-cup-final-live Minute by minute account on The Guardian]

{{FA Cup Finals}}
{{1952–53 in English football}}
{{Blackpool F.C. matches}}
{{Bolton Wanderers F.C. matches}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1953 Fa Cup Final}}
[[Category:1952–53 in English football|FA Cup Final]]
[[Category:FA Cup finals]]
[[Category:Blackpool F.C. matches|FA Cup Final 1953]]
[[Category:Bolton Wanderers F.C. matches|FA Cup Final 1953]]
[[Category:May 1953 sports events in the United Kingdom|FA Cup Final 1953]]
[[Category:1953 in sport in London|FA Cup Final]]
[[Category:Nicknamed sporting events]]