The 2013–14 FA Cup (also known as The FA Cup with Budweiser for sponsorship reasons) was the 133rd season of the FA Cup, the main domestic cup competition in English football, and the oldest football knock-out competition in the world. It was sponsored by Budweiser for a third consecutive season.[1] 737 clubs from England and Wales entered the competition, which began with the extra preliminary round on 16 August.[2][3] For the first time in the history of the FA Cup, a team from Guernsey entered the competition, Guernsey F.C.,[4] who made it to the second round qualifying.
The final was played on 17 May 2014 at Wembley Stadium, and saw Arsenal face Hull City. Arsenal were 2–0 down within the first 8 minutes, however, they were able to equalise through a free kick dispatched by Santi Cazorla and another goal by Laurent Koscielny, taking the match into extra time. Aaron Ramsey would score the winner for Arsenal in the 109th minute to give the club their 11th FA Cup, a tied record together with Manchester United.[6]
All of the teams entering the competition that are not members of either the Premier League or the Football League had to compete in the qualifying rounds to win a place in the competition proper. The qualifying rounds decide which 32 non-league teams play in the first round proper.
First round proper
The first round draw took place on Sunday 27 October at 1.35pm.[8] A total of 80 teams will compete, 32 of which having progressed from the Fourth Qualifying Round and 48 clubs from the Football League.[9] The 48 Football League clubs that will enter the first round proper comprise Football League One and Football League Two. The lowest ranked sides in this round were Daventry Town and Shortwood United; they are the only level 8 teams left in the competition.
The second round draw took place on Sunday 10 November at 4.10pm.[10] A total of 40 teams will compete, all of which having progressed from the first round proper.[11] The lowest ranked side to qualify for this round is Stourbridge. They are the only level 7 team left in the competition.
Match was abandoned in second half due to waterlogged pitch and was due to be replayed on 4 January 2014.[12] However, on 3 January a pitch inspection postponed this match further to 8 January 2014.[13]
The fourth round draw took place on Sunday 5 January 2014, live on ITV at 14:00.[16]Kidderminster Harriers were the lowest ranked team to qualify for this round. They were the only non-league / level 5 team left in the competition.
The fifth round draw took place at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 26 January 2014.[17] A total of 16 teams competed, all of which has progressed from the fourth round proper.[18] The lowest ranked side qualified for this round are Sheffield United.[19] They are the only level 3 team in the fifth round.
The draw for the sixth round took place on Sunday 16 February 2014.[20] The lowest ranked side qualified for this round is Sheffield United. They are the only level 3 team in the sixth round.
The draw for the semi-finals took place at Wembley Stadium, London on Sunday 9 March 2014.[21] A total of four teams compete, all of which have progressed from the sixth round proper.[22] The lowest ranked team qualified for this round is Sheffield United. They are the only level 3 team in the semi-finals. The matches were delayed by 7 minutes to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster, which took place on 15 April 1989 in an FA Cup semi-final match between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool, claiming 97 lives.
