1933 FA Cup final

Everton had contested the final on four previous occasions. They beat Newcastle United 1–0 to win the Cup in 1906, but were defeated in the 1893, 1897 and 1907 finals. The 1933 final was Manchester City's third. Both their previous finals were against Bolton Wanderers. Manchester City won by a goal to nil in 1904, and lost by the same scoreline in 1926. Both teams had performed well in the previous season. Manchester City reached the semi-finals of the 1932 FA Cup; Everton were reigning league champions.[15] The clubs had never previously met in cup competition. The league matches between the two earlier in the season each finished as a win for the home team.[16] At the time of the final, Everton's league position was tenth, and Manchester City's sixteenth.[17] Newspapers did not declare a clear favourite for the win. Everton were viewed as having the more skilful players, particularly their forwards, whereas Manchester City were seen as having greater strength and determination.[16][18]

Everton spent the week before the match in the spa town of Buxton, and travelled to Dorking on the eve of the match. Manchester City spent the week in Bushey.[18] Everton's James Dunn received treatment on a thigh injury in the ten days preceding the game, but was anticipated to be fit enough to play.[19] Manchester City's main injury worry was Fred Tilson, who was troubled by a leg injury.[18] Dunn was passed fit well before the game, allowing Everton to field the same line-up that played in four of their five previous cup ties.[20]

Ten miles (16 km) of barbed wire was used to secure Wembley Stadium against unauthorised entry.[21] The pre-match entertainment was music by the Band of the Irish Guards, and communal singing backed by the band of the Royal Horse Guards.[22] Inclement weather prevented the attendance of King George V.[23] Instead the guest of honour was the Duke of York. Other guests present included Baron Wigram, Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey, Austrian envoy Baron von Franckenstein and the West Indies cricket team.[22]

The Manchester City line-up contained two survivors from the 1926 team, Sam Cowan and Jimmy McMullan. The only Everton player with cup final experience was Tommy Johnson, who also played for Manchester City in the 1926 final. He represented the Manchester club between 1919 and 1930, and at the time of the 1933 final was Manchester City's all-time highest goalscorer.

Both teams usually wore blue, causing a colour clash. The competition rules required both teams to wear alternative colours.[24] For the first time in a cup final, the players wore numbered shirts.[25] Everton were numbered 1–11, and Manchester City 12–22. Everton goalkeeper Sagar wore 1, with the forwards bearing the higher numbers. Manchester City were the reverse. Forward Brook wore 12, through to goalkeeper Langford who wore 22.[18][26]

Sam Cowan (18) and Dixie Dean, captains of Manchester City and Everton, before the match

Each team played the formation typical of the era: two full-backs, three half-backs and five forwards. With Tilson absent from the Manchester City line-up, Alec Herd moved across to Tilson's usual centre-forward position, and Bobby Marshall was selected at inside-right.[27] For Everton, Albert Geldard who was injured for the semi-final was selected at outside right, and Ted Critchley who scored the winning goal in the FA Cup semi-final, was left out of the side.

Manchester City had the first attack of the match, but it came to nothing.[28] Soon Everton began to dominate the match, with Dean frequently involved in the attacking play.[29] Several Everton attacks came on their left flank. Stein caused Manchester City right-back Sid Cann problems,[30] and Cann was forced to concede a corner kick on several occasions.[28] Just after the half-hour Everton had their first shot on target, when Stein's effort was saved by Langford.[28] Another chance quickly arrived. Stein's cross passed in front of goal, but Dean was unable to connect with the ball.[29] Two minutes later Manchester City goalkeeper Langford attempted to catch a cross from Britton, but dropped the ball under pressure from Dean. The ball fell into the path of Stein, who put the ball into the empty net to give Everton the lead.[28][29][31] At half-time Everton led 1–0.

Everton players posing with the Cup

Everton continued to control the game in the second half. Manchester City took shots from long range, but none required Sagar to make a save.[27] Seven minutes into the second half, Langford again failed to catch a Britton cross, and Dean charged to the net. Dean, ball and goalkeeper all landed in the goal, making the score 2–0.[32][33] Manchester City then made a few fruitless attacks. As was the case throughout the game, the Everton defence outplayed the Manchester City forwards. The Manchester Guardian singled out Warney Cresswell for particular praise, describing his performance as "an almost perfect display".[28] Ten minutes from time a Dunn header from a corner made the score 3–0 to Everton.[27] Just before the end Everton's Johnson had a chance to make it 4–0, but the referee blew his whistle for full-time before Johnson could take his shot.[28]

Everton captain Dixie Dean led his team to the Royal Box and received the cup from the Duke of York.[34] Everton returned to Liverpool on the Monday evening, and paraded the city in the same horse-drawn carriage used in the celebrations of their previous cup win in 1906.[35] The players attended a reception at the town hall, where large crowds greeted them.[36] After the reception the cup was taken to Goodison Park for public viewing.[35]

Newsreels of the final featured post-match toasts by the two captains. First Dixie Dean, raising his glass, said "Here's to Lancashire, and may the cup stay in Lancashire. If Everton don't win it, may another Lancashire club win it." Cowan replied "I hope the next Lancashire club that wins it is Manchester City, my club".[37] The following year's final made the captains' remarks look perceptive. Cowan and his Manchester City team returned, and beat Portsmouth 2–1 to win the 1934 cup.[38] Both Manchester City and Everton also went on to win the league championship later in the decade; Manchester City in 1937, and Everton in 1939.