2019–20 FA Cup qualifying rounds

The 2019–20 FA Cup qualifying rounds opened the 139th season of competition in England for The Football Association Challenge Cup (FA Cup), the world's oldest association football single knockout competition.

2019–20 FA Cup qualifying rounds
Tournament details
CountryEngland
Wales

The FA made 736 places available in the FA Cup for the 2019–20 season,[1] the same number as had been accepted the previous year. The 92 teams from the EFL and Premier League received direct entry to the competition proper. The remaining 644 teams, from the National League System (levels 5–10 of the English football league system), entered into the qualifying competition consisting of six rounds of preliminary (2) and qualifying (4) knockout matches. With more eligible entrants than places available, teams from level 10 of the English football league system were accepted up to the point at which the 736 places were full, based on their points per game from the 2018–19 season, with 1.84 points per game being the cut off.[1]

The 32 winning teams from the fourth qualifying round progressed to the First round proper.

Calendar edit

The calendar for the 2019–20 Emirates FA Cup qualifying rounds, as announced by The Football Association.[2]

Round Main date Leagues entering at this round New entries this round Winners from previous round Number of fixtures Prize fund
Losing club Winning club
Extra preliminary round 10 August 2019 Levels 8–10 368 none 184 £750 £2,250
Preliminary round 24 August 2019 Level 7 (14 lowest ranked clubs)
Level 8
136 184 160 £960 £2,890
First qualifying round 7 September 2019 Level 7 72 160 116 £1,500 £4,500
Second qualifying round 21 September 2019 National League North
National League South
44 116 80 £2,250 £6,750
Third qualifying round 5 October 2019 none none 80 40 £3,750 £11,250
Fourth qualifying round 19 October 2019 National League 24 40 32 £6,250 £18,750

Extra preliminary round edit

Extra preliminary round fixtures were played on 9–13 August 2019. The draw was held on Friday 12 July 2019. A total of 368 teams, from Level 8, Level 9 and Level 10 of English football, entered at this stage of the competition. This round contained 71 teams from Level 10.

Preliminary round edit

Preliminary round fixtures were played on 23–25 August 2019. The draw was held on Friday 12 July 2019. A total of 136 teams, from Level 7 and Level 8 of English football, entered at this stage of the competition. These teams joined 184 winners from the extra preliminary round. This round contained 25 teams from Level 10; the lowest-ranked teams in the competition.

First qualifying round edit

First qualifying round fixtures were played the weekend of 6–8 September 2019. The draw was held on 27 August 2019. A total of 232 teams took part in this stage of the competition, including the 160 winners from the Preliminary round and 72 entering at this stage from the four leagues at Level 7 of English football. The round included seven teams from Level 10, the lowest-ranked teams still in the competition.

Second qualifying round edit

Second qualifying round ties took place over the weekend of 21–22 September. The draw was held on 9 September 2019. A total of 160 teams took part in this stage of the competition, including the 116 winners from the first qualifying round and 44 entering at this stage from the two leagues at Level 6 of English football. Two teams from Level 10 were included in the draw after earning replays, but both sides lost those replays. This left 14 sides from Level 9 initially as the lowest-ranked teams still in the competition. However, Grays Athletic was removed from the competition on 20 September 2019 for fielding an ineligible player in an earlier round.[3] Their opponent in the most recent round, March Town from Level 10, advanced instead, making them the lowest ranked team remaining in the competition.

Third qualifying round edit

Third qualifying round ties took place over the weekend of 5–6 October. The draw was held on 23 September 2019. A total of 80 teams took part in this stage of the competition - the winners from the previous round only with no new teams added to the competition this round. Three teams from Level 9 - Abbey Rangers, Hadley, and Tavistock - advanced to the third qualifying round and were the lowest-ranked teams remaining in the competition.

Fourth qualifying round edit

The 40 winners from the third qualifying round were joined by the 24 clubs at level 5 for 32 ties. The draw was made on 7 October 2019. The round contained five teams from Level 8 - Colne, Belper Town, Whyteleafe, Chichester City and Maldon & Tiptree, the lowest-ranked teams remaining in the competition.

Competition proper edit

32 winners from the fourth qualifying round advance to the First round proper, where 47 teams from League One (Level 3) and League Two (Level 4) of English football, operating in the English Football League, enter the competition.[6] The first round will include Maldon & Tiptree F.C. from level 8, while Chichester City F.C., also from level 8, received the first round bye due to the expulsion of Bury F.C. from the FA Cup, and will progress directly to the second round.

Broadcasting rights edit

The qualifying rounds are not covered by the FA Cup's broadcasting contracts held by BBC Sport and BT Sport, although one game per round will be broadcast by the BBC on its media platforms.

Round Tie Broadcaster
extra preliminary round[7] Punjab United vs Broadbridge Heath BBC Sport
Preliminary round[8] Heather St John's vs Worcester City
First qualifying round[9] Thatcham Town vs Salisbury
Second qualifying round[10] Irlam vs York City
Third qualifying round[11] Halesowen Town vs Altrincham
Fourth qualifying round[12] Potters Bar Town vs Barnet
York City vs Stockport County BT Sport

References edit

  1. ^ a b Simpson, Andrew. "Barnton miss out on place in FA Cup for 2019-2020 season". Northwich Guardian. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  2. ^ "The Emirates FA Cup Round Dates, 2019-20". The Football Association. 8 June 2019.
  3. ^ "Football: Grays Athletic expelled from the FA Cup". 20 September 2019.
  4. ^ "FA Cup tie between Haringey Borough and Yeovil abandoned after alleged racism". Sky Sports. 19 October 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  5. ^ "Haringey Borough v Yeovil Town FA Cup tie to be replayed on Tuesday 29 October". BBC Sport. 21 October 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  6. ^ Galantini, Emilio; McCartney, Aidan. "FA Cup schedule confirmed - find out the dates of every round". The Daily Post. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  7. ^ "FA Cup: BBC to show Punjab United v Broadbridge Heath extra preliminary round tie". BBC Sport. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  8. ^ "More FA Cup qualifying action coming your way on the BBC Sport website!". BBC Sport. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  9. ^ "FA Cup: BBC to show Thatcham Town v Salisbury in first qualifying round". BBC Sport. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  10. ^ "FA Cup: BBC to show Irlam v York City in second qualifying round". BBC Sport. 13 September 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  11. ^ "FA Cup: BBC to show Halesowen Town v Altrincham in third qualifying round". BBC Sport. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  12. ^ "Both BT Sport and BBC Online will show Emirates FA Cup fourth round qualifying Ties". The FA. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2019.

External links edit