History of the FA Cup History of the FA Cup The history of the FA Cup in association football dates back to 1871–72. Aside from suspensions during the First and Second World Wars, the competition has been played every year since. On 20 July 1871, in the offices of "The Sportsman" newspaper, C. W. Alcock proposed to The Football Association committee that "it is desirable that a Challenge Cup should be established in connection with the Association for which all clubs belonging to the Association should be invited to compete". The other committee members were: The proposition was carried. The inaugural FA Cup tournament kicked
2016–17 FA Cup qualifying rounds 9 were the lowest ranked teams in this round. The results were as follows: 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 English Football League, first enter the competition. 2016–17 FA Cup qualifying rounds The 2016–17 FA Cup qualifying rounds open the 136th season of competition in England for The Football Association Challenge Cup (FA Cup), the world's oldest association football single knockout competition. For the third successive year, 736 entrants were accepted into the competition. The large