| Tournament details | |
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| Country | England Wales |
The2011–12 FA Cup qualifying rounds opened the131st season of competition inEngland for 'The Football Association Challenge Cup' (FA Cup), the world's oldestassociation football singleknockout competition. A new record 763 clubs were accepted for the competition, up four from the previous season's 759.
The large number of clubs entering the tournament from lower down (Levels 5 through 10) in theEnglish football pyramid meant that the competition started with six rounds of preliminary (2) and qualifying (4) knockouts for thesenon-League teams. The 32 winning teams from the fourth qualifying round progressed to theFirst round proper, whereLeague teams tiered at Levels 3 and 4 entered the competition.
The calendar for the 2011–12 FA Cup qualifying rounds, as announced bythe FA.[1]
| Round | Main date | Leagues entering at this round | New entries this round | Winners from previous round | Number of fixtures | Prize money[2] |
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| Extra preliminary round | 20 August 2011 | Levels 9-10 | 408 | none | 204 | £750 |
| Preliminary round | 3 September 2011 | Level 8 | 130 | 204 | 167 | £1,500 |
| First qualifying round | 17 September 2011 | Level 7 | 65 | 167 | 116 | £3,000 |
| Second qualifying round | 1 October 2011 | Conference North Conference South | 44 | 116 | 80 | £4,500 |
| Third qualifying round | 15 October 2011 | none | none | 80 | 40 | £7,500 |
| Fourth qualifying round | 29 October 2011 | Conference Premier | 24 | 40 | 32 | £12,500 |
| For the next rounds look2011–12 FA Cup | ||||||
Extra preliminary round ties were played on the weekend of 20 August 2011. 408 clubs fromLevel 9 and Level 10 of English football, entered at this stage of the competition.
Preliminary round fixtures were played on the weekend of 3 September 2011. A total of 334 clubs took part in this stage of the competition, including the 204 winners from the extra preliminary round and 130 entering at this stage from the six leagues atLevel 8 of English football, whileIlkeston andFarsley from Northern Premier League were ineligible to participate as they only spent their second seasons. The round featured 48 clubs from Level 10 still in the competition, being the lowest ranked teams in this round.
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The First qualifying round fixtures were played on the weekend of 17 September 2011, with replays being played the following mid-week. A total of 232 clubs took part in this stage of the competition, including the 167 winners from the preliminary round and 65 entering at this stage from the top division of the three leagues atLevel 7 of English football, whileChester from Northern Premier League were ineligible to participate as they only spent their second season. The round featured sixteen clubs from Level 10 still in the competition, being the lowest ranked clubs in this round.
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The Second qualifying round fixtures were played on the weekend of 1 October 2011. A total of 160 clubs took part in this stage of the competition, including the 116 winners from the first qualifying round and 44Level 6 clubs, fromConference North andConference South, entering at this stage. Six clubs fromLevel 10 of English football, was the lowest-ranked team to qualify for this round of the competition.
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The Third qualifying round took place on the weekend of 15 October 2011. A total of 80 clubs took part, all having progressed from the second qualifying round. Four clubs fromLevel 10 of English football were the lowest-ranked teams to qualify for this round of the competition.
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The Fourth qualifying round took place on the weekend of 29 October 2011. A total of 64 clubs took part, 40 having progressed from the third qualifying round and 24 clubs fromConference Premier, formingLevel 5 of English football, entering at this stage. The lowest-ranked side to qualify for this round was Level 10 clubHebburn Town.
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Winners from the fourth qualifying round advance to first round Proper, where clubs fromLevel 3 and Level 4 of English football, operating inThe Football League, first enter the competition. See2011–12 FA Cup for a report of First round proper onwards.