The FA Cup has been contested since the Autumn of 1872 (11th November), when 15 clubs of amateur status entered a "new" competition. Due to various "stumbling blocks" only 4 games were contested, played by four clubs, Much has changed since then. The Wanderers won the first Final, a team made up from pupils of the leading Public Schools in the south of England.
| March 16th 1871-2 | Wanderers | 1-0 | Royal Engineers | The Kennington Oval | Attendance 2,000 |
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Now, the first six rounds of the FA Cup is the "Qualifying" Competition, and each round is contested by clubs in the National League from Levels 5 to 10 of the English football system, more commonly called Non-League. 32 of these teams progress to the First Round of the Competition Proper, meeting the first of the 48 professional teams from Leagues One and Two.
The last entrants are the 20 Premier League and 24 Championship clubs, into the draw for the third round proper. In the modern era, only one non-League team has ever reached the quarter-finals, and teams below Level 2 have never reached the final. As a result, significant focus is given to the smaller teams who progress furthest, especially if they achieve an unlikely "giant-killing" victory.
The first season of competition in 1871 was "pruned" by withdrawals and byes-no club really appreciated how much they would create "history" with this new challenge cup. The "Minute Book" of the FA recorded this new venture in just 53 words. Charles Alcock, the secretary of the FA, was the "Father" of the Cup. The meeting on October 16th 1871 set the ball rolling, the rules were made, entries received and boots dubbined!
The Final was played on March 16th at The Oval, where 2,000 spectators paid a "shilling" (now about 5p) to watch. The weekly eage then was under £1. Can you remember your first view of an FA Cup tie? Mine was the 1957 Final at Wembley watched in my family "sitting room" on a very small "black and white" TV. So the cup is already on "a roll". Now it takes 13 rounds to create a winner, lasting nine months and around 700 matches, depending on replays, of course.
Extra Preliminary Round - Saturday 5 August 2023 Preliminary Round - Saturday 19 August 2023 First Round Qualifying - Saturday 2 September 2023
If you fancy a look at the early results, search for your local club!!
Today ties on 6th September:
| Kick Off | No. | Home | Away | Live on | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26R | Darlaston Town | VS | Sporting Khalsa | |||
| 84 | Flackwell Heath | VS | Farnham Town | |||
| 87R | Hastings United | VS | Erith & Belvedere |
https://www.thefa.com/competitions/thefacup/qualifying-rounds
Second Round Qualifying - Saturday 16 September 2023 Third Round Qualifying - Saturday 30 September 2023 Fourth Round Qualifying - Saturday 14 October 2023
First Round Proper - Saturday 4 November 2023 Second Round Proper - Saturday 2 December 2023 Third Round Proper - Saturday 6 January 2024 Fourth Round Proper - Saturday 27 January 2024 Fifth Round Proper - Wednesday 28 February 2024 Quarter-final - Saturday 16 March 2024 Semi-final - Saturday 20 April 2024 The Final - Saturday 25 May 2024.
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