2015–16 FA Cup qualifying rounds

The 2015–16 FA Cup qualifying rounds opened the 135th season of competition in England for The Football Association Challenge Cup (FA Cup), the world's oldest association football single knockout competition. A total of 736 clubs were accepted for the competition, the same as the previous season.[1]

2015–16 FA Cup qualifying rounds
Country England
 Guernsey
 Wales

The large number of clubs entering the tournament from lower down (Levels 5 to 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 the Fourth qualifying round progressed to the First Round Proper, where League teams tiered at Levels 3 and 4 entered the competition.

Calendar and prizes

The calendar for the 2015–16 FA Cup qualifying rounds, as announced by The Football Association.[1]

Round Main date Leagues entering at this round New entries this round Winners from previous round Number of fixtures Prize money[2]
Extra preliminary round15 August 2015Levels 9-10368none184£1,500
Preliminary round29 August 2015Level 8136184160£1,925
First qualifying round12 September 2015Level 772160116£3,000
Second qualifying round26 September 2015National League North
National League South		4411680£4,500
Third qualifying round10 October 2015nonenone8040£7,500
Fourth qualifying round24 October 2015National League244032£12,500
For the next rounds look 2015–16 FA Cup

Extra preliminary round

Extra preliminary round fixtures were due to be played on 15 August 2015, with replays taking place no later than 20 August 2015. A total of 368 teams, from Level 9 and Level 10 of English football, entered at this stage of the competition. The round includes 91 teams from Level 10 of English football, being the lowest ranked clubs to compete in the tournament.[3]

Preliminary round

Preliminary round fixtures were due to be played on 29 August 2015, with replays no later than 4 September. A total of 320 teams took part in this stage of the competition, including the 184 winners from the Extra preliminary round and 136 entering at this stage from the six leagues at Level 8 of English football. The round included 29 teams from Level 10 still in the competition, being the lowest ranked teams in this round.

First qualifying round

First qualifying round fixtures were played on 12 September 2015, with replays no later than 18 September. 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 three leagues at Level 7 of English football. The round included eleven teams from Level 10 still in the competition, being the lowest ranked teams in this round.

Second qualifying round

Second qualifying round fixtures were due to be played on 26 September 2015, with replays no later than 2 October. 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. The round included Bodmin Town, Hinckley and Hook Norton from Level 10 still in the competition, being the lowest ranked teams in this round.

Third qualifying round

Third qualifying round fixtures were due to be played on 10 October 2015, with replays taking place no later than 16 October. A total of 80 teams took part in this stage of the competition, all winners from the Second qualifying round. The round included eight teams from Level 9 still in the competition, being the lowest ranked teams in this round.

Fourth qualifying round

Fourth qualifying round fixtures were due to be played on 24 October 2015, with replays taking place no later than 30 October. A total of 64 teams took part in this stage of the competition, including the 40 winners from the Third qualifying round and 24 entering at this stage from the Conference Premier at Level 5 of English football. The round included Sporting Khalsa from Level 9 still in the competition, being the lowest ranked team in this round.

Competition proper
Main article: 2015–16 FA Cup

Winners from the Fourth qualifying round advanced to the First Round Proper, where teams from League One (Level 3) and League Two (Level 4) of English football, operating in The Football League, first enter the competition. See 2015–16 FA Cup for a report of First Round Proper onwards.

Broadcasting rights

The qualifying rounds aren't covered by the FA Cup's broadcasting contracts held by BBC Sport and BT Sport, although one game was televised.

The following qualifying rounds matches were broadcast live on UK television:

Round Tie Broadcaster
Fourth qualifying round[4] Margate vs Forest Green Rovers BT Sport

References
  1. "WHO PLAYS WHO? EARLY FA COMPETITION FIXTURES UNVEILED". The Football Association. 2015-07-03. Retrieved 2018-01-07.
  2. "Emirates FA Cup prize fund". thefa.com. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  3. "Extra Preliminary Round". www.thefa.com. The Football Association. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  4. "Emirates FA Cup fourth round qualifying tie live on BT Sport". The FA.
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