2008–09 FA Cup qualifying rounds

The 2008–09 FA Cup qualifying rounds opened the 128th season of competition in England for 'The Football Association Challenge Cup' (FA Cup), the world's oldest association football single knockout competition. A new record 762 clubs were accepted for the competition, up 33 from the previous season's 729 completing a significant increase of 75 teams (11%) from the 687 clubs just two seasons earlier. South Normanton Athletic folded before the fixtures were released, leaving 761 clubs to appear in the draw.

2008–09 FA Cup qualifying rounds
Country England
 Wales

The large number of clubs entering the tournament from lower down (Levels 5 through 10) in the English football pyramid meant that the competition started with six rounds of preliminary (2) and qualifying (4) knockouts for these non-League teams. The 32 winning teams from Fourth qualifying round progressed to the First Round Proper, where League teams tiered at Levels 3 and 4 entered the competition.

Calendar

The calendar for the 2008–09 FA Cup qualifying rounds, as announced by The FA.

Round Start date Leagues entering at this round New entries this round Winners from previous round Number of fixtures Prize money
Extra preliminary round16 August 2008Levels 9-10406none203£750
Preliminary round30 August 2008Level 8129203166£1,500
First qualifying round13 September 2008Level 766166116£3,000
Second qualifying round27 September 2008Conference North
Conference South
4411680£4,500
Third qualifying round11 October 2008nonenone8040£7,500
Fourth qualifying round25 October 2008Conference Premier244032£12,500

Extra preliminary round

The draw for the Extra preliminary round was announced on The FA's website on Tuesday, 1 July. 406 clubs from Level 9 and Level 10 of English football, entered at this stage of the competition.

Preliminary round

Matches in the Preliminary round were played on the weekend of Saturday, 30 August 2008, with replays played on 2 September and 3 September 2008. The draw for the round was announced on The FA's website on Tuesday, 1 July. A total of 332 clubs took part in this stage of the competition, including the 203 winners from the Extra preliminary round and 129 entering at this stage from the six leagues at Level 8 of English football. The round featured 52 clubs from Level 10 still in the competition, being the lowest ranked clubs in this round.

First qualifying round

Matches in the First qualifying round were played on the weekend of Saturday, 13 September 2008. Replays were played on 16 and 17 September 2008. The draw for the round was announced on The FA's website on Tuesday, 1 July. A total of 232 clubs took part in this stage of the competition, including the 166 winners from the Preliminary round and 66 entering at this stage from the top division of the three leagues at Level 7 of English football. The round featured 14 clubs from Level 10 still in the competition, being the lowest ranked clubs in this round.

Second qualifying round

Matches in the Second qualifying round were played on the weekend of Saturday, 27 September 2008. A total of 160 clubs took part in this stage of the competition, including the 116 winners from the First qualifying round and 44 Level 6 clubs, from Conference North and Conference South, entering at this stage. Southam United from Level 10 of English football was the lowest-ranked club to qualify for this round of the competition.

Third qualifying round

Matches in the Third qualifying round will be played on the weekend of Saturday, 11 October 2008. The draw for the round was announced on The FA's website on Monday, 29 September. A total of 80 clubs took part, all having progressed from the Second qualifying round. Six clubs from Level 9 of English football were the lowest-ranked to qualify for this round of the competition.

Fourth qualifying round

Matches in the Fourth qualifying round were played on the weekend of Saturday, 25 October 2008. A total of 64 clubs took part, 40 having progressed from the Third qualifying round and 24 clubs from Conference Premier, forming Level 5 of English football, entering at this stage. Leiston from Level 9 of English football was the lowest-ranked club to qualify for this round of the competition.

Competition proper

See 2008–09 FA Cup for details of the rounds from the First Round Proper onwards.

References


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