Retro Football: 13 Great Archive Photos Of The 1939 FA Cup

Paul Sorene

20th, May 2015

2 Comments

On April 29th of 1939 Portsmouth defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 4–1 in the FA Cup Final. The Second World War meant the next FA Cup final was not held again til 1946.

These photographs are of that very FA Cup season…

3rd January 1939:  Three Tottenham Hotspur FC soccer players looking at their new numbered football shirts for the third round FA cup tie against Watford at White Hart Lane, London. Left to right Duncan, A Hall, and W Hall (Capt).  (Photo by Stephens/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)

3rd January 1939: Three Tottenham Hotspur FC soccer players looking at their new numbered football shirts for the third round FA cup tie against Watford at White Hart Lane, London. Left to right Duncan, A Hall, and W Hall (Capt). (Photo by Stephens/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)

11th January 1939:  Villa's F O'Donnell heads over the Ipswich crossbar as Ipswich Town play Aston Villa at Portman Road in an FA Cup third round replay.  (Photo by Davis/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)

11th January 1939: Villa’s F O’Donnell heads over the Ipswich crossbar as Ipswich Town play Aston Villa at Portman Road in an FA Cup third round replay. (Photo by Davis/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)

Ipswich Town football players having a bath together at Portman Road after the replay of their third round FA Cup match with Aston Villa, 11th January 1939. Villa won the tie 2-1  (Photo by London Express/Getty Images)

Ipswich Town football players having a bath together at Portman Road after the replay of their third round FA Cup match with Aston Villa, 11th January 1939. Villa won the tie 2-1 (Photo by London Express/Getty Images)

Alas, no luck: Yeovil lost 2-1.

11th January 1939:  Yeovil factory workers who support Yeovil  football club, with their rabbits' feet which they hope will bring their team luck in their FA cup match against Sheffield Wednesday .  (Photo by Alan Webb/Fox Photos/Getty Images)

11th January 1939: Yeovil factory workers who support Yeovil football club, with their rabbits’ feet which they hope will bring their team luck in their FA cup match against Sheffield Wednesday . (Photo by Alan Webb/Fox Photos/Getty Images)

19th January 1939:  Wolverhampton Wanderers are favourites for the FA Cup in 1939. Here the team display their clean boots.  (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)

19th January 1939: Wolverhampton Wanderers are favourites for the FA Cup in 1939. Here the team display their clean boots. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)

No free meals: Chelsea were knocked out in the sixth round by Grimsby Town…

circa 1939:  Mr Roger, the proprietor of a restaurant on the Chalk Farm Road, London, putting up a notice announcing that he will give free meals to all his customers if Chelsea win the FA Cup.  (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)

Circa 1939: Mr Roger, the proprietor of a restaurant on the Chalk Farm Road, London, putting up a notice announcing that he will give free meals to all his customers if Chelsea win the FA Cup. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)

18th February 1939:  Groundstaff at Wembley Stadium roll the pitch as part of the months of preparations for the FA Cup Final.  (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)

18th February 1939: Groundstaff at Wembley Stadium roll the pitch as part of the months of preparations for the FA Cup Final. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)

circa 1939:  Two women checking FA cup final tickets at Messrs Waterlow's printing works in Finsbury, London.  (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Circa 1939: Two women checking FA cup final tickets at Messrs Waterlow’s printing works in Finsbury, London. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

6th February 1939:  A young woman checks tickets for the FA Cup Final as they come off the press.  (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)

6th February 1939: A young woman checks tickets for the FA Cup Final as they come off the press. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)

 

A groundsman mowing the pitch in preparation for the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium, London, 29th April 1939. (Photo by H. F. Davis/Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

A groundsman mowing the pitch in preparation for the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium, London, 29th April 1939. (Photo by H. F. Davis/Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

29th April 1939:  A Portsmouth Football Club supporter cheering his team in Trafalgar Square, London, before their FA Cup Final match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Wembley Stadium.  (Photo by Stephenson/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)

29th April 1939: A Portsmouth Football Club supporter cheering his team in Trafalgar Square, London, before their FA Cup Final match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Wembley Stadium. (Photo by Stephenson/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)

29th April 1939:  Wolverhampton Wanderers, set to meet Portsmouth in the FA Cup final at Wembley. Left to right (back): J Mullen, Galley, Scott, Morris, Taylor, Gardiner. Left to right (front): Burton, McIntosh, Stan Cullis (1915 - 2001), Dorsett and Maguire.  (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

29th April 1939: Wolverhampton Wanderers, set to meet Portsmouth in the FA Cup final at Wembley. Left to right (back): J Mullen, Galley, Scott, Morris, Taylor, Gardiner. Left to right (front): Burton, McIntosh, Stan Cullis (1915 – 2001), Dorsett and Maguire. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

5th June 1939:  Jimmy Guthrie, the Portsmouth captain, being carried by his team mates after winning the FA Cup final.  (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

Jimmy Guthrie, the Portsmouth captain, being carried by his team mates after winning the FA Cup final. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

(Photos: Getty)

Posted in FA Cup, Newsnow, Photos, Portsmouth, Retro, Wolves

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2 Comments

  1. Ron says:

    Show these photos to all the primadonnas playing today…guys making millions and millions and millions. Especially the guys in the group tub. They might think again about complaining about their rough life.

  2. The photo of the Wolves team (incl. the great Jimmy Mullen who was 1st reserve) has omitted to name the great Dennis Westcott (Wolves greatest ever no. 9) who is seen seated on the extreme left of the front row next to Burton. I have been a Wolves Supporter since May 1939 when when Wolves greatest Captain, the 22 year old Stan Cullis, took over as the England Captain from the Arsenal’ left back, Eddie Hapgood, who was out injured. Wolves greatest Manager, Major Buckley, was the Wolves manager for the 1939 FA Cup, and on whose shoulders all subsequent Wolves Managers, including Stan Cullis who was as great, have stood. rgds – F. David ‘Ferdie’ Gilson (London Wolves Supporters Club and the Athletics club:South London Harriers). PS. I have vowed to boycott the Wolves Molineux Museum until Dennis Westcott is included in the Wolves Hall of Fame.

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