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2023–24 FA Trophy

The 2023–24 FA Trophy (known for sponsorship reasons as the 2023–24 Isuzu FA Trophy) was the 55th edition of the FA Trophy, an annual football competition for teams at levels 5–8 of the English football league system.

Format and eligibility

Applications to enter the 55th edition of the FA Trophy needed to be submitted by 1 April 2023.[1] Competing clubs had to compete between step 1 and step 4 of the non-League pyramid, equivalent to levels 5 to 8 of the overall English football league system. Furthermore, grounds had to conform to grade 4 of the FA National Ground Grading.[1]

The calendar was announced by The Football Association on 1 July 2023.[2] The competition consists of three qualifying rounds and eight proper rounds.[3] Teams enter at different stages depending on their position in the English pyramid.[3] Teams at level 8 enter into the first qualifying round and must win 11 matches to become champions.[3] Level 7 teams enter into the third qualifying round and must win 9 matches to become champions.[4] Level 6 teams enter into the second round proper and must win 7 matches to become champions.[3] Level 5 teams enter into the third round proper and must win 6 matches to become champions.[3]

All rounds are single-match knockout format, with the winner decided by penalties if the match was drawn after 90 minutes, apart from the Final where the winner was decided by extra-time and penalties if the match is drawn.[4] This is the same format as the 2020–21, 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons which broke from previous seasons that used replays and two-legged semi-finals. The 2019–20 season was scheduled to play two-legged semi-finals but due to their delay by the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom were shifted to a single match.[5] All other previous editions played to the same format of replays and two-legged semi-finals.

FC Halifax Town were the reigning champions for the 2023–24 season, having defeated Gateshead in the 2023 FA Trophy final at Wembley Stadium.[6][7]

First round qualifying

The draw for the first qualifying round was made on 8 July 2023.[8]

The first round of qualifying took place on the weekend of 8–10 September[4] and involves 158 teams in 79 matches.[9][10]159 teams, all from Level 8 of the English football league system, were drawn into 79 fixtures, with the leftover team, Hinckley LR, receiving a bye.[3]

Second round qualifying

The draw for the second qualifying round was also made on 8 July 2023.[8]

This round consisted of the 79 winners from the previous round alongside Hinckley LR who received a bye in the previous round.

Third round qualifying

The draw for the third qualifying round was made on 25 September 2023.[15] The 40 winners from the previous round were joined by 88 teams from the seventh level.

First round proper

The draw for the First round proper was made on 9 October 2023 consisting of the 64 winners from the previous round.[17]

Second round proper

The draw for the second round was made on 30 October 2023, seeing the 48 teams from step two joining the 32 winners from the previous round.[19][4]

Third round proper

The draw for the third round was made on 20 November 2023 and saw the 24 clubs from the National League join the 40 winners from the previous round.[21][22]

Fourth round proper

The draw for the fourth round was made on 11 December 2023 containing the 32 winners from the previous round.[24]

Fifth round proper

The draw for the fifth round was made on 15 January 2024.[26]

Quarter-finals

The draw for the quarter-finals was made on 12 February 2024.[28]

Semi-finals

The draw for the semi-finals was made on 11 March 2024.[30]

Gateshead International Stadium, Gateshead
Attendance: 3,031
Hayes Lane, Bromley
Attendance: 4,038

Final

Wembley Stadium, London
Referee: Sam Allison

References

  1. ^ a b "Online applications open for the 2023–24 FA Cup, FA Trophy, FA Vase and FA Youth Cup". The FA. 1 April 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  2. ^ "The Buildbase FA Trophy Round Dates for the 2023–24 campaign". www.thefa.com. 1 July 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Rules of The FA Challenge Trophy 2023–24". thefa.com. The Football Association. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d Association, The Football. "Round dates". www.thefa.com. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  5. ^ "Football Association pick hosts for one-legged Vase and Trophy semis". Non-League Football Paper. 28 August 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  6. ^ Gwidon S. Naskrent. "FA Trophy Finals". RSSSF. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  7. ^ Luke De Costa (21 May 2023). "FA Trophy final: FC Halifax Town 1–0 Gateshead". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  8. ^ a b "The early round draws in the Isuzu FA Trophy and Isuzu FA Vase have been made". www.thefa.com. 8 July 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  9. ^ Association, The Football. "The FA Trophy - Fixtures". www.thefa.com. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  10. ^ The Isuzu FA Trophy Season 2023–24 List of Exemptions
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "The FA Trophy Results". The FA. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  12. ^ "Isuzu FA Trophy – Fixtures and Results – First Qualifying Round". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  13. ^ "East Thurrock United go into liquidation". Southend Echo. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  14. ^ "Isuzu FA Trophy – Fixtures and Results – Second Qualifying Round". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  15. ^ "The next draws for the Isuzu FA Vase and FA Trophy have been made". www.thefa.com. 25 September 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  16. ^ "Isuzu FA Trophy – Fixtures and Results – Third Qualifying Round". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  17. ^ "The draw for the Isuzu FA Trophy first round proper has been made". The FA.
  18. ^ "Isuzu FA Trophy – Fixtures and Results – First Round". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  19. ^ "The draw for the Isuzu FA Trophy second round proper has been made". The FA.
  20. ^ "Isuzu FA Trophy – Fixtures and Results – Second Round". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  21. ^ "National League clubs join the Isuzu FA Trophy as third round draw is made". www.thefa.com. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  22. ^ "www.thenationalleague.org.uk". 8 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  23. ^ "Isuzu FA Trophy – Fixtures and Results – Fourth Round". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  24. ^ "The draw for the fourth round proper of the 2023–24 Isuzu FA Trophy has been made". The FA. 11 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  25. ^ "Isuzu FA Trophy – Fixtures and Results – Fourth Round". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  26. ^ "THE ISUZU FA TROPHY AND FA VASE FIFTH ROUND DRAWS WERE MADE LIVE ON TALKSPORT 2". www.thefa.com. 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  27. ^ "Isuzu FA Trophy – Fixtures and Results – Fourth Round". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  28. ^ "CLUBS FIND OUT 2023-24 ISUZU FA TROPHY AND FA VASE QUARTER-FINAL OPPONENTS". www.thefa.com. 12 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  29. ^ "Isuzu FA Trophy – Fixtures and Results – Fourth Round". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  30. ^ "THE ISUZU FA TROPHY AND FA VASE SEMI-FINAL DRAWS WERE MADE LIVE ON TALKSPORT2". www.thefa.com. 11 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.