2011–12 FA Cup qualifying rounds

The 2011–12 FA Cup qualifying rounds opened the 131st season of competition in England for 'The Football Association Challenge Cup', the world's oldest association football single knockout 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 in the English football pyramid meant that the competition started with six rounds of preliminary and qualifying 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 2011–12 FA Cup qualifying rounds, as announced by the FA.

Extra preliminary round

Extra preliminary round ties were played on the weekend of 20 August 2011. 408 clubs from Level 9 and Level 10 of English football, entered at this stage of the competition.

Preliminary round

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 at Level 8 of English football, while Ilkeston and Farsley 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.

First qualifying round

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 at Level 7 of English football, while Chester 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.

Tie	Home team	Score	Away team
1	Spennymoor Town	2–1	Dunston UTS	259
2	Bedlington Terriers	4–0	Newcastle Benfield	181
3	Kendal Town	1–0	Whitley Bay	289
4	Hebburn Town	2–0	Penrith	83
5	Shildon	0–0	Ashington	157
replay	Ashington		Shildon	229
6	Armthorpe Welfare	1–1	Stocksbridge Park Steels	115
replay	Stocksbridge Park Steels	3–1	Armthorpe Welfare	86
7	Garforth Town	0–2	Frickley Athletic	170
8	Pickering Town	2–2	Staveley Miners Welfare	118
replay	Staveley Miners Welfare	4–0	Pickering Town	124
9	Parkgate	1–3	Whitby Town	116
10	Wakefield	4–0	Ossett Town	102
11	North Ferriby United	1–0	Worksop Town	168
12	Bradford Park Avenue	8–0	Harrogate Railway Athletic	265
13	Tadcaster Albion	3–0	Scarborough Athletic	472
14	Ashton United	5–1	Runcorn Town	100
15	F.C. United of Manchester	1–1	Woodley Sports	1,109
replay	Woodley Sports	1–4	F.C. United of Manchester	328
16	Bamber Bridge	0–4	Warrington Town	159
17	Squires Gate	0–0	Runcorn Linnets	179
replay	Runcorn Linnets	1–0	Squires Gate	325
18	Ramsbottom United	1–2	Nantwich Town	217
19	Lancaster City	5–1	Maine Road	176
20	AFC Fylde	1–1	Chorley	411
replay	Chorley	0–1	AFC Fylde	516
21	Witton Albion	2–0	Marine	246
22	Burscough	2–2	Clitheroe	137
replay	Clitheroe	5–2	Burscough	184
23	Cammell Laird	1–2	Radcliffe Borough	65
24	Trafford	0–2	Northwich Victoria	386
25	Deeping Rangers	5–1	New Mills	137
26	Louth Town	0–2	Buxton	335
27	Grantham Town	2–0	Arnold Town	201
28	Mickleover Sports	4–2	Gresley	315
29	Matlock Town	2–0	Hucknall Town	356
30	Carlton Town	1–0	Heanor Town	109
31	Romulus	1–2	Bridgnorth Town	101
32	Evesham United	4–0	Rocester	104
33	Leamington	5–0	Boldmere St. Michaels	422
34	Leek Town	2–0	Tipton Town	281
35	Kidsgrove Athletic	3–0	Gornal Athletic	160
36	Chasetown	6–2	Alvechurch	264
37	Rushall Olympic	1–0	Bedworth United	168
38	Bewdley Town	1–2	Stourbridge	301
39	Redditch United	0–2	Hednesford Town	348
40	AFC Wulfrunians	2–3	Stafford Rangers	304
41	Newcastle Town	5–5	Stratford Town	114
replay	Stratford Town	6–2	Newcastle Town	211
42	Barwell	3–2	Stone Dominoes	118
43	Thurnby Nirvana	1–1	Barrow Town	87
replay	Barrow Town	3–1	Thurnby Nirvana	113
44	Long Buckby	4–1	Thrapston Town	70
45	Huntingdon Town	1–3	Daventry Town	161
46	Quorn	2–1	Loughborough University	122
47	Loughborough Dynamo	3–1	Daventry United	103
48	Cambridge City	2–2	Maldon & Tiptree	266
replay	Maldon & Tiptree	2–1	Cambridge City	98
49	Needham Market	1–1	Ely City	224
replay	Ely City	3–4	Needham Market	163
50	Leiston	0–1	AFC Sudbury	283
51	Bury Town	3–0	Gorleston	319
52	Heybridge Swifts	1–2	Lowestoft Town	198
53	Wisbech Town	1–4	Wroxham	441
54	King's Lynn Town	1–0	Haverhill Rovers	836
55	Tilbury	1–2	Arlesey Town	90
56	Waltham Forest	2–0	Hitchin Town	70
57	St. Albans City	0–0	Berkhamsted	351
replay	Berkhamsted	0–3	St. Albans City	306

Second qualifying round

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 44 Level 6 clubs, from Conference North and Conference South, entering at this stage. Six clubs from Level 10 of English football, was the lowest-ranked team to qualify for this round of the competition.

Tie	Home team	Score	Away team	'
1	Northwich Victoria	1–2	Nantwich Town	542
2	Stalybridge Celtic	1–2	Guiseley	462
3	Workington	1–2	Droylsden	316
4	FC Halifax Town	2–1	Tadcaster Albion	1,002
5	Wakefield	1–4	Kendal Town	98
6	Stocksbridge Park Steels	3–1	Colwyn Bay	128
7	Clitheroe	1–3	Radcliffe Borough	203
8	Staveley Miners Welfare	0–3	Hyde	320
9	Blyth Spartans	2–1	Bedlington Terriers	835
10	Ashton United	0–3	Spennymoor Town	324
11	AFC Fylde	2–2	Gainsborough Trinity	282
replay	Gainsborough Trinity	2–1	AFC Fylde	525
12	Hebburn Town	1–0	Runcorn Linnets	170
13	F.C. United of Manchester	0–1	Lancaster City	1,147
14	Bradford Park Avenue	3–1	Warrington Town	268
15	Whitby Town	2–1	North Ferriby United	253
16	Frickley Athletic	1–1	Harrogate Town	285
replay	Harrogate Town	'1–2	Frickley Athletic	274
17	Altrincham	0–2	Witton Albion	628
18	Ashington	3–3	Vauxhall Motors	444
replay	Vauxhall Motors	0–1	Ashington	221
19	Histon	1–1	Corby Town	427
replay	Corby Town	3–1	Histon	642
20	Mickleover Sports	1–4	Barrow Town	230
21	Stafford Rangers	2–4	Stratford Town	438
22	Deeping Rangers	0–2	Leek Town	225
23	Buxton	1–2	Rushall Olympic	238
24	Matlock Town	1–3	Hinckley United	411
25	Eastwood Town	0–3	Evesham United	222
26	Barwell	0–2	Stourbridge	236
27	Chasetown	1–2	Grantham Town	326
28	Bridgnorth Town	0–2	Long Buckby	201
29	Carlton Town	0–1	Hednesford Town	201
30	Daventry Town	2–1	Leamington	551
31	Needham Market	0–3	Nuneaton Town	319
32	Solihull Moors	2–0	Loughborough Dynamo	152
33	Boston United	0–0	Kidsgrove Athletic	817
replay	Kidsgrove Athletic	2–0	Boston United	280
34	King's Lynn Town	4–2	Quorn	812
35	Chipstead	0–3	Billericay Town	175
36	Oxhey Jets	1–2	Hendon	376
37	Hanworth Villa	1–0	Aveley	196
38	Cray Wanderers	5–0	Erith Town	183
39	Arlesey Town	6–2	Hampton & Richmond Borough	156
40	Redbridge	1–0	Bury Town	120
41	Slough Town	3–2	Boreham Wood	277
42	East Thurrock United	3–3	St Albans City	181
replay	St Albans City	1–3	East Thurrock United	250
43	Southend Manor	4–2	Chertsey Town	168
44	Dover Athletic	3–0	Carshalton Athletic	639

Tie	Home team	Score	Away team	'
45	North Greenford United	2–1	Hythe Town	107
46	Chelmsford City	3–0	Tonbridge Angels	653
47	Sutton United	5–1	Dulwich Hamlet	494
48	Wroxham	2–2	Concord Rangers	140
replay	Concord Rangers	1–2	Wroxham	111
49	Dartford	5–0	Harrow Borough	803
50	Margate	0–0	Thamesmead Town	267
replay	Thamesmead Town	1–6	Margate	141
51	Bromley	2–1	Welling United	716
52	Leighton Town	3–0	Hatfield Town	213
53	Whitehawk	0–0	Maldon & Tiptree	104
replay	Maldon & Tiptree	2–1	Whitehawk	92
54	Staines Town	0–0	Beaconsfield SYCOB	213
replay	Beaconsfield SYCOB	0–2	Staines Town	175
55	Burnham	2–2	Horsham	130
replay	Horsham	2–3	Burnham	202
56	Dunstable Town	2–1	Chesham United	229
57	Biggleswade Town	1–1	Leatherhead	242
replay	Leatherhead	2–1	Biggleswade Town	240
58	Canvey Island	0–1	Bishop's Stortford	316
59	Waltham Forest	0–3	Eastbourne Borough	175
60	Maidstone United	2–3	Bognor Regis Town	386
61	Merstham	0–2	AFC Sudbury	123
62	Lowestoft Town	3–0	Hemel Hempstead Town	669
63	VCD Athletic	2–2	Thurrock	104
replay	Thurrock	1–0	VCD Athletic	87
64	Worthing	0–0	Beckenham Town	349
replay	Beckenham Town	1–2	Worthing	274
65	Havant & Waterlooville	4–1	Sholing	370
66	Frome Town	0–0	Basingstoke Town	300
replay	Basingstoke Town	3–0	Frome Town	262
67	Thame United	1–3	Oxford City	462
68	Bournemouth	0–0	Truro City	238
replay	Truro City	3–2	Bournemouth	182
69	Dorchester Town	0–1	Weston-super-Mare	329
70	Whitchurch United	0–2	Gloucester City	400
71	Wells City	0–7	Woking	410
72	Salisbury City	3–0	Swindon Supermarine	598
73	Yate Town	1–1	Bodmin Town	154
replay	Bodmin Town	4–1	Yate Town	300
74	Godalming Town	2–1	Worcester City	334
75	Poole Town	4–0	Cadbury Heath	382
76	Eastleigh	3–1	Cinderford Town	225
77	Weymouth	3–3	Hungerford Town	404
replay	Hungerford Town	1–3	Weymouth	214
78	Hartley Wintney	2–1	Bideford	210
79	Maidenhead United	1–1	Farnborough	352
replay	Farnborough	2–3	Maidenhead United	395
80	Clevedon Town	1–2	AFC Totton	140

Third qualifying round

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 from Level 10 of English football were the lowest-ranked teams to qualify for this round of the competition.

Tie	Home team	Score	Away team	'
1	Nantwich Town	2–1	Kendal Town	468
2	Radcliffe Borough	2–4	Hebburn Town	215
3	Lancaster City	0–3	FC Halifax Town	646
4	Whitby Town	1–2	Blyth Spartans	506
5	Gainsborough Trinity	2–0	Frickley Athletic	644
6	Hyde	0–1	Bradford Park Avenue	560
7	Ashington	1–0	Guiseley	730
8	Witton Albion	3–1	Spennymoor Town	512
9	Droylsden	4–1	Stocksbridge Park Steels	230
10	King's Lynn Town	3–2	Stratford Town	866
11	Daventry Town	1–2	Nuneaton Town	605
12	Hednesford Town	2–4	Corby Town	602
13	Kidsgrove Athletic	2–1	Long Buckby	343
14	Hinckley United	3–3	Leek Town	436
replay	Leek Town	1–2	Hinckley United	488
15	Solihull Moors	3–2	Grantham Town	308
16	Barrow Town	0–3	Rushall Olympic	318
17	Stourbridge	5–0	Evesham United	518
18	Billericay Town	0–3	Leatherhead	384
19	Worthing	0–2	Staines Town	466
20	Redbridge	3–0	Dunstable Town	114
21	Eastbourne Borough	1–0	AFC Sudbury	529

Tie	Home team	Score	Away team	'
22	Lowestoft Town	2–5	Chelmsford City	1,065
23	Cray Wanderers	1–2	Dartford	690
24	Maldon & Tiptree	1–3	Hendon	159
25	Thurrock	0–0	Arlesey Town	73
replay	Arlesey Town	4–1	Thurrock	136
26	Burnham	2–5	Bishop's Stortford	182
27	Slough Town	2–2	Hanworth Villa	525
replay	Hanworth Villa	3–1	Slough Town	592
28	East Thurrock United	3–3	North Greenford United	123
replay	North Greenford United	0–3	East Thurrock United	102
29	Dover Athletic	3–1	Wroxham	628
30	Margate	2–3	Bromley	515
31	Southend Manor	5–0	Leighton Town	309
32	Sutton United	4–0	Bognor Regis Town	622
33	Basingstoke Town	4–0	Hartley Wintney	577
34	Bodmin Town	1–1	Godalming Town	300
replay	Godalming Town	5–1	Bodmin Town	360
35	Gloucester City	7–2	Truro City	385
36	AFC Totton	4–2	Weymouth	712
37	Eastleigh	1–3	Oxford City	325
38	Salisbury City	6–1	Poole Town	961
39	Weston-super-Mare	3–2	Havant & Waterlooville	333
40	Maidenhead United	4–1	Woking	625

Fourth qualifying round

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 from Conference Premier, forming Level 5 of English football, entering at this stage. The lowest-ranked side to qualify for this round was Level 10 club Hebburn Town.

Tie	Home team	Score	Away team	'
1	Tamworth	2–1	King's Lynn Town	966
2	Droylsden	0–0	Blyth Spartans	393
replay	Blyth Spartans	2–1	Droylsden	679
3	Stourbridge	5–0	Rushall Olympic	720
4	Kidsgrove Athletic	0–2	Bradford Park Avenue	1,140
5	Gateshead	3–0	Hebburn Town	1,198
6	Grimsby Town	5–0	Ashington	1,540
7	Wrexham	2–1	York City	2,252
8	Mansfield Town	1–1	Fleetwood Town	1,725
replay	Fleetwood Town	5–0	Mansfield Town	1,162
9	Nantwich Town	1–0	Nuneaton Town	1,011
10	Alfreton Town	1–1	Lincoln City	1,000
replay	Lincoln City	1–2	Alfreton Town	1,728
11	AFC Telford United	5–0	Gainsborough Trinity	1,075
12	Southport	1–0	Stockport County	1,358
13	Solihull Moors	0–1	FC Halifax Town	551
14	Kidderminster Harriers	0–0	Corby Town	1,281
replay	Corby Town	4–1	Kidderminster Harriers	1,026
15	Darlington	1–1	Hinckley United	1,175
replay	Hinckley United	3–0	Darlington	837

Tie	Home team	Score	Away team	'
16	Witton Albion	1–4	Barrow	860
17	Dover Athletic	0–1	Bath City	922
18	Bishop's Stortford	1–2	Salisbury City	501
19	Eastbourne Borough	1–2	East Thurrock United	603
20	Chelmsford City	1–1	Gloucester City	928
replay	Gloucester City	0–1	Chelmsford City	490
21	Hayes & Yeading United	2–6	Cambridge United	452
22	Godalming Town	0–5	Maidenhead United	703
23	Sutton United	3–3	Leatherhead	882
replay	Leatherhead	2–3	Sutton United	940
24	Weston-super-Mare	2–3	Oxford City	630
25	AFC Totton	3–2	Hanworth Villa	764
26	Basingstoke Town	2–1	Staines Town	545
27	Arlesey Town	2–1	Forest Green Rovers	343
28	Dartford	1–2	Bromley	1,567
29	Luton Town	5–1	Hendon	2,329
30	Kettering Town	3–1	Southend Manor	987
31	Redbridge	2–0	Ebbsfleet United	442
32	Newport County	4–3	Braintree Town	1,234

Competition proper

Winners from the fourth qualifying round advance to first round Proper, where clubs from Level 3 and Level 4 of English football, operating in The Football League, first enter the competition. See 2011–12 FA Cup for a report of First round proper onwards.