2020–21 FA Cup qualifying rounds

2020–21 FA Cup qualifying rounds
Tournament details
CountryEngland
Wales
Teams644

The 2020–21 FA Cup qualifying rounds opened the 140th season of The Football Association Challenge Cup (FA Cup), the world's oldest association football single knockout competition, organised by The Football Association, the governing body for the sport in England (though the competition also features teams from Wales). The 32 winning teams from the fourth qualifying round progressed to the First round proper.

The FA made 737 places available in the FA Cup for the 2020–21 season,[1] an increase in two on the previous season, due to the need to produce an extra qualifier in the second qualifying round, following a shortfall in teams at step 2 of the National League System. Following the liquidation of Macclesfield Town, 736 teams ultimately entered the competition. 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.[2]

With 889 eligible entrants,[3] more than the number of places available, teams from level 10 of the English football league system were accepted up to the point at which the 737 places were full, based on a random draw.[3] This reflected the cancellation of level 10 leagues in 2019–20 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and thus the absence of league placings on which to base qualification, as had been used in previous seasons. The pandemic also led to the removal of replays from the qualifying competition, in order to fit with a delayed start following the extended 2019–20 football season,[4] and a reduction in the prize fund, with figures returning to those last used in the 2017–18 season.[4]

Calendar

Planned dates for the early qualifying rounds were released to clubs in the National League System in late July,[5] and confirmed by the FA on 3 August 2020.[4] With replays removed from qualifying, several rounds were scheduled for Tuesdays rather than the usual Saturday.[citation needed]

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 1 September 2020 Levels 8–10 368 none 184 £375 £1,125
Preliminary round 12 September 2020 Level 7 (lowest ranked clubs)
Level 8		 136 184 160 £481 £1,444
First qualifying round 22 September 2020 Level 7 74 160 117 £750 £2,250
Second qualifying round 3 October 2020 National League North
National League South		 43 117 80 £1,125 £3,375
Third qualifying round 13 October 2020 none 0 80 40 £1,875 £5,625
Fourth qualifying round 24 October 2020 National League 23 40 31 £3,125 £9,375

Extra preliminary round

Extra preliminary round fixtures were played on 31 August – 3 September 2020. The draw was made on 18 August 2020. A total of 368 teams, from Level 8, Level 9 and Level 10 of English football, entered at this stage of the competition, 20 of which were making their first appearance in the competition.[6] This round included 74 teams from Level 10, the lowest-ranked teams in the competition.

Preliminary round

This draw was also made on 18 August 2020, and saw another 136 clubs joining the 184 winners from the previous round. Ties were played between Friday, 11 September and Monday, 14 September 2020.[11] This round included 26 teams from Level 10, the lowest-ranked teams left in the competition.

First qualifying round

The draw for the first qualifying round was made on 14 September 2020, and saw another 74 clubs from Level 7 joining the 160 winners from the preliminary round. Ties were played between Monday, 21 September and Wednesday, 23 September 2020.[17] This round included 6 teams from Level 10, the lowest-ranked teams left in the competition.

Second qualifying round

The draw for the second qualifying round was made on 25 September 2020, and saw 43 clubs from Level 6 joining the 117 winners from the first qualifying round. Ties were played between Saturday, 3 October and Monday, 5 October 2020. This round included two teams from Level 10, Saltash United and Risborough Rangers, the lowest-ranked teams left in the competition.

Third qualifying round

The draw for the third qualifying round was made on 5 October 2020, and consists solely of the 80 winners from the second qualifying round. Ties were played on Tuesday, 13 October and Wednesday, 14 October 2020. This round included five teams from Level 9, these being Longridge Town, Skelmersdale United, Chatham Town, Sheppey United, and Christchurch, the lowest-ranked teams left in the competition.

Fourth qualifying round

The draw for the fourth qualifying round was made on 15 October 2020, and saw 23 clubs from Level 5 joining the 40 winners from the third qualifying round. Ties were played on the weekend of Saturday, 24 October 2020. This round included one team from Level 9, Skelmersdale United, the lowest-ranked team left in the competition. Due to the liquidation of Macclesfield Town, there was an odd number of teams competing in this round. As a result, Chorley were drawn to receive a bye to the First round proper.

Broadcasting

The qualifying rounds were not covered by the FA Cup's broadcasting contracts held by BBC Sport and BT Sport, although one game per round was broadcast by the BBC on its media platforms. In addition, Hashtag United streamed their second qualifying-round match live on Twitch.

Round Tie Broadcaster
Extra preliminary round[28] Maine Road v Squires Gate BBC Sport
Preliminary pound[29] Stocksbridge Park Steels v Stalybridge Celtic
First qualifying round[30] Hashtag United v Soham Town Rangers
Second qualifying round[31] Warrington Rylands 1906 v York City
Hashtag United v Braintree Town Twitch
Third qualifying round Christchurch v Dulwich Hamlet BBC Sport
Fourth qualifying round[32][33] Ilkeston Town v Hartlepool United
Bishop's Stortford v St Albans City BT Sport

Notes

  1. ^ Newmarket Town were awarded a walkover due to a Walsham-le-Willows player testing positive for COVID-19, forcing them to forfeit.[7]
  2. ^ AFC Sudbury were awarded a walkover due to a Burton Park Wanderers player testing positive for COVID-19, forcing them to forfeit.[8]
  3. ^ Egham Town were awarded a walkover due to a Redhill player testing positive for COVID-19, forcing them to forfeit.[10]
  4. ^ Whitley Bay were awarded a walkover due to a Dunston UTS player testing positive for COVID-19, forcing them to forfeit.[12]
  5. ^ Droylsden withdrew from competition
  6. ^ Evesham United were awarded a walkover due to numerous Coventry United players testing positive for COVID-19, forcing them to forfeit.
  7. ^ West Bridgford were awarded a walkover due to eight Lincoln United players testing positive for COVID-19, forcing them to forfeit.[12]
  8. ^ Carlton Town were awarded a walkover due to a GNG Oadby Town player testing positive for COVID-19, forcing them to forfeit.[12]
  9. ^ Match abandoned at half-time due to allegations of discrimination, with score at 3–0.[14][15]
  10. ^ Haywards Heath Town were awarded a walkover due to three Broadbridge Heath players testing positive for COVID-19, forcing them to forfeit.[16]
  11. ^ Burgess Hill Town were awarded a walkover due to Hollands & Blair failing to fulfil the fixture.
  12. ^ a b Game played behind closed doors due to Borough of Scarborough being on government COVID-19 watchlist
  13. ^ Bamber Bridge withdrew due to a player testing positive for COVID-19.[18]
  14. ^ Merthyr Town withdrew due to being on Welsh Assembly COVID-19 watchlist.[19]
  15. ^ FC United of Manchester were awarded a walkover due to an Alfreton player testing positive for COVID-19, forcing them to forfeit.[23]
  16. ^ Brackley Town were awarded a walkover due to a Kettering Town player testing positive for COVID-19, forcing them to forfeit.[24]
  17. ^ Hemel Hempstead Town were awarded a walkover due to a Boston United player testing positive for COVID-19, forcing them to forfeit.[25]
  18. ^ King's Lynn Town were awarded a walkover due to several Notts County players testing positive for COVID-19, forcing them to forfeit.[26]
  19. ^ Chesterfield originally won 7-6 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, but the tie was declared null and void due to Chesterfield fielding an ineligible player, enforcing a rematch.[27]

References

  1. ^ "The FA Emirates Cup Entries – Accepted" (PDF). The Football Association. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  2. ^ "The Emirates FA Cup – List of Exemptions" (PDF). The Football Association. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  3. ^ a b "FA Cup: 2020–21 competition will maintain its existing structure". BBC Sport. 25 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  4. ^ a b c "Emirates FA Cup 2020–21 details confirmed including round dates, prize fund and more". The Football Association. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  5. ^ Goddard, Ben (28 July 2020). "Hereford FC to start competitive action with FA Cup tie". Hereford Times. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  6. ^ "DRAWS RELEASED FOR FIRST TWO ROUNDS OF 2020–21 EMIRATES FA CUP". TheFA.com. The Football Association. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  7. ^ @Ollie_Bayliss (1 September 2020). "A 3rd club have forfeit their FA Cup..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. ^ "IMPORTANT NEWS ON FA CUP MATCH". A.F.C. Sudbury. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  9. ^ Parker, Andrew (26 August 2020). "Update regarding FA Cup Tuesday 1st September". leightontownfc.co.uk. Leighton Town FC. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  10. ^ "COVID-19 STATEMENT". Redhill F.C. 26 August 2020. Archived from the original on 22 May 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  11. ^ "DRAWS RELEASED FOR FIRST TWO ROUNDS OF 2020–21 EMIRATES FA CUP". TheFA.com. The Football Association. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  12. ^ a b c "Two Clubs Forced To Withdraw From FA Cup". The Northern Premier League. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  13. ^ "Club Statement: FA Cup fixture vs Billingham Town". Stockton Town FC. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  14. ^ Panting, Matthew (12 September 2020). "Sevenoaks Town's FA Cup tie against CB Hounslow United abandoned at half-time after 'alleged matter'". Kent Online. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  15. ^ "Decision reached following the abandonment of Emirates FA Cup preliminary round tie". The Football Association. 16 September 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  16. ^ "EMIRATES FA CUP MATCH V HAYWARDS HEATH - CANCELLED". Broadbridge Heath F.C. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  17. ^ "117 TIES IN THE EMIRATES FA CUP FIRST ROUND QUALIFYING WERE DRAWN OUT ON MONDAY". TheFA.com. The Football Association. 14 September 2020.
  18. ^ "MATCH POSTPONED - Ashton United v Bamber Bridge". www.pitchero.com.
  19. ^ "Merthyr Town FC". www.merthyrtownfc.co.uk.
  20. ^ Barnes, Jeff (4 October 2020). "FA Cup Tie Now At Potters Bar - Today!". Potters Bar Town F.C. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  21. ^ Deacon, Henry (28 September 2020). "FA Cup tie moved to Bognor Regis". Havant & Waterlooville F.C. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  22. ^ "FA Cup Reversed to Monday night at WFC". Whyteleafe F.C. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  23. ^ "MATCH OFF - tonight's match against Alfreton Town has been cancelled". FC United of Manchester. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  24. ^ "FA CUP WITHDRAWAL". Kettering Town FC. 13 October 2020. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  25. ^ "EMIRATES FA CUP ADVENTURE CURTAILED". Boston United FC. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  26. ^ "Notts County pull out of FA Cup after more positive coronavirus tests". Sky Sports. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  27. ^ "FA Cup tie to be replayed". Chesterfield F.C. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  28. ^ "Watch: FA Cup extra-preliminary round - Maine Road FC 0-5 Squires Gate". BBC Sport. 31 August 2020.
  29. ^ "BBC to show FA Cup preliminary round tie". BBC Sport.
  30. ^ "Hashtag United v Soham live on BBC Sport". BBC Sport.
  31. ^ "Warrington Rylands v York City on BBC". BBC Sport.
  32. ^ "Ilkeston v Hartlepool tie live on BBC". BBC Sport.
  33. ^ "Blues' Emirates FA Cup tie against St Albans to be shown live on BT Sport". 19 October 2020.