THE FA Cup will celebrate its 150th anniversary with a total of 729 clubs entering the famous competition – and replays will return in the qualifying rounds.
Prize money for 2021-22 will remain at circa £16m with payments to winners and losers continuing in all the qualifying rounds before reverting to victors from the first round proper onwards.
Replays were scrapped last season to help clubs get through the rounds in light of the Covid pandemic, a feat that was achieved, ahead of the first round proper in November, which is locked in because of broadcasting commitments.
To make the numbers work, two draws have had to be made. One determines the 21 Step 4 clubs that will enter in the extra preliminary round.
Staines Town, who famously beat Shrewsbury Town in the first round in 2009, are among those entering a round earlier than the rest of the Step 4 clubs.
Pitching In NPL West outfit Marine last year went all the way from the preliminary round to the third round proper, where they met Tottenham Hotspur, having netted more than £78,000 in prize money alone. A draw has also been held to determine eight of the 17 Step 6 Leagues who will be represented, with one club from each.
Fairest
The FA said: “This club is the highest ranked club within that Step 6 League that wasn’t successful in receiving upward movement to Step 5 of the NLS in the recent restructuring.
“We believe this to be the fairest method in the current circumstances, to ensure the competition has a fair balance of clubs from Step 6 of the National League System (NLS.)”
The extra preliminary round will kick off on August 7, with the Preliminary Round on August 21.
First round qualifying will bring the arrival of the 87 Step 3 clubs, before the National League North and South clubs, as usual, enter in second round qualifying.
National League clubs join in fourth round qualifying with the first round proper penned in for the Saturday, November 6 weekend.
The final will be played at Wembley on Saturday, May 14, with the Women’s FA Cup final the following day.
Meanwhile, replays won’t take place in the 2021-22 Buildbase FA Trophy or Buildbase FA Vase competitions.
The FA said: “These format changes have been made to ease some pressure on the fixture schedule and to assist clubs and leagues in meeting all fixture commitments.”
The first two draws for the Trophy and Vase will be made on Friday.
THE EMIRATES FA CUP SEASON 2021-22 PRIZE FUND
Extra Preliminary Round winners (174) £1,125
Extra Preliminary Round losers (174) £375
Preliminary Round winners (155) £1,444
Preliminary Round losers (155) £481
First Round Qualifying winners (121) £2,250
First Round Qualifying losers (121) £750
Second Round Qualifying winners (82) £3,375
Second Round Qualifying losers (82) £1,125
Third Round Qualifying winners (41) £5,625
Third Round Qualifying losers (41) £1,875
Fourth Round Qualifying winners (32) £9,375
Fourth Round Qualifying losers (32) £3,125
First Round Proper winners (40) £22,629
Second Round Proper winners (20) £34,000
Third Round Proper winners (32) £82,000
Fourth Round Proper winners (16) £90,000
Fifth Round Proper winners (8) £180,000
Quarter-Final winners (4) £360,000
Semi-Final losers (2) £450,000
Semi-Final winners (2) £900,000
Final runners-up (1) £900,000
Final winners (1) £1,800,000
THE EMIRATES FA CUP SEASON 2021-22 ROUND DATES
Extra Preliminary Round Sat 7 August 21
Preliminary Round Sat 21 August 21
First Round Qualifying Sat 4 September 21
Second Round Qualifying Sat 18 September 21
Third Round Qualifying Sat 2 October 21
Fourth Round Qualifying Sat 16 October 21
First Round Proper Sat 6 November 21
Second Round Proper Sat 4 December 21
Third Round Proper Sat 8 January 22
Fourth Round Proper Sat 5 February 22
Fifth Round Proper Wed 2 March 22
Quarter-Final Sat 19 March 22
Semi-Final Sat 16 April 22
Final Sat 14 May 22
THE EMIRATES FA CUP SEASON 2021-22 LIST OF 729 CLUBS
1874 Northwich, Abbey Rangers, Accrington Stanley, AFC Bournemouth, AFC Croydon Ath, AFC Dunstable, AFC Fylde, AFC Liverpool, AFC Mansfield, AFC Portchester, AFC Rushden & Diamonds, AFC St Austell, AFC Stoneham, AFC Sudbury, AFC Telford Utd, AFC Totton, AFC Uckfield Tn, AFC Varndeanians, AFC Wimbledon, AFC Wulfrunians, Albion Sports, Aldershot Tn, Alfold, Alfreton Tn, Alresford Tn, Alton, Altrincham, Alvechurch, Amesbury Tn, Andover New Street, Anstey Nomads, Ardley Utd, Arlesey Tn, Arsenal, Ascot Utd, Ashford Tn (Middx), Ashford Utd, Ashington, Ashton & Backwell Utd, Ashton Ath, Ashton Utd, Aston Villa, Athersley Recreation, Atherton Collieries, Ath Newham, Aveley, Avro, Aylesbury Utd, Aylesbury Vale Dynamos, Badshot Lea, Baffins Milton Rvrs, Baldock Tn, Balham, Bamber Bridge, Banbury Utd, Banstead Ath, Barking, Barnet, Barnoldswick Tn, Barnsley, Barnstaple Tn, Barrow AFC, Barton Rvrs, Barton Tn, Barwell, Basford Utd, Bashley, Basildon Utd, Basingstoke Tn, Bath City, Beaconsfield Tn, Bearsted, Beckenham Tn, Bedfont Sports Club, Bedford Tn, Bedworth Utd, Belper Tn, Berkhamsted, Bewdley Tn, Bexhill Utd, Bideford AFC, Biggleswade, Biggleswade Tn, Biggleswade Utd, Billericay Tn, Billingham Tn, Binfield, Birmingham City, Bishop Auckland, Bishop’s Cleeve, Bishop’s Stortford, Bitton AFC, Blackburn Rvrs, Blackfield & Langley, Blackpool, Blyth Spartans AFC, Bognor Regis Tn, Boldmere St Michaels, Bolton Wanderers, Bootle, Boreham Wood, Boston Tn, Boston Utd, Bottesford Tn, Bournemouth, Bowers & Pitsea, Brackley Tn, Bracknell Tn, Bradford (Park Avenue), Bradford City, Bradford Tn, Braintree Tn, Brantham Ath, Brentford, Brentwood Tn, Bridgwater Tn, Bridlington Tn, Bridport, Brighouse Tn, Brightlingsea Regent, Brighton & Hove Albion, Brimscombe & Thrupp, Brislington, Bristol City, Bristol Manor Farm, Bristol Rvrs, Brixham, Broadbridge Heath, Broadfields Utd, Brockenhurst, Bromley, Bromsgrove Sporting, Buckland Ath, Bugbrooke St Michaels, Burgess Hill Tn, Burnham, Burnley, Burscough, Burton Albion, Bury Tn, Buxton, Cadbury Heath, Calne Tn, Camberley Tn, Cambridge City, Cambridge Utd, Campion, Canterbury City, Canvey Island, Cardiff City, Carlisle Utd AFC, Carlton Tn, Carshalton Ath, CB Hounslow Utd, Chalfont St Peter AFC, Charlton Ath, Charnock Richard, Chasetown, Chatham Tn, Chelmsford City, Chelsea, Cheltenham Tn, Chertsey Tn, Chesham Utd, Cheshunt, Chester, Chesterfield, Chichester City, Chippenham Tn, Chipping Sodbury Tn, Chipstead, Chorley, Christchurch, Cinderford Tn, Cirencester Tn, City Of Liverpool, Clapton, Cleethorpes Tn, Clevedon Tn, Clitheroe, Coalville Tn, Cobham, Cockfosters, Cogenhoe Utd, Coggeshall Tn, Colchester Utd, Coleshill Tn, Colliers Wood Utd, Colne, Colney Heath, Concord Rangers, Congleton Tn, Consett AFC, Corby Tn, Corinthian Casuals, Corinthian, Corsham Tn, Coventry City, Coventry Sphinx, Coventry Utd, Cowes Sports, Crawley Down Gatwick, Crawley Green, Crawley Tn, Cray Valley (PM), Cray Wanderers, Crewe Alexandra, Cribbs, Crook Tn AFC, Crowborough Ath, Crystal Palace, Curzon Ashton, Dagenham & Redbridge, Darlington, Dartford, Daventry Tn, Deal Tn, Deeping Rangers, Derby County, Dereham Tn, Desborough Tn, Didcot Tn, Doncaster Rvrs, Dorchester Tn, Dorking Wanderers, Dover Ath, Dulwich Hamlet, Dunstable Tn, Dunston, Easington Sports, East Grinstead Tn, East Preston, East Thurrock Utd, Eastbourne Boro, Eastbourne Tn, Eastbourne Utd AFC, Eastleigh, Eastwood Community, Ebbsfleet Utd, Eccleshill Utd, Edgware Tn, Egham Tn, Ely City, Emley AFC, Enfield, Enfield Tn, Erith & Belvedere, Erith Tn, Everton, Evesham Utd, Exeter City, Exmouth Tn, Eynesbury Rvrs, Fairford Tn, Fakenham Tn, Fareham Tn, Farnborough, Farnham Tn, Farsley Celtic, Faversham Tn, FC Clacton, FC Halifax Tn, FC Romania, FC United of Manchester, Felixstowe & Walton Utd, Fisher, Flackwell Heath, Fleet Tn, Fleetwood Tn, Folkestone Invicta, Forest Green Rvrs, Frickley Ath, Frimley Green, Frome Tn, Fulham, Gainsborough Trinity, Garforth Tn, Gateshead, Gillingham, Glebe, Glossop North End, Gloucester City, GNG Oadby Tn, Godmanchester Rvrs, Goole AFC, Gorleston, Gosport Boro, Grantham Tn, Grays Ath, Great Wakering Rvrs, Gresley Rvrs, Grimsby Boro, Grimsby Tn, Guildford City, Guisborough Tn, Guiseley AFC, Hadleigh Utd, Hadley, Halesowen Tn, Hallen, Hamble Club, Hampton & Richmond Boro, Hamworthy Utd, Handsworth, Hanley Tn, Hanwell Tn, Hanworth Villa, Harborough Tn, Harefield Utd, Haringey Boro, Harlow Tn, Harpenden Tn, Harrogate Tn, Harrow Boro, Hartlepool Utd, Hartley Wintney, Hashtag Utd, Hassocks, Hastings Utd, Haughmond, Havant & Waterlooville, Haverhill Rvrs, Hayes & Yeading Utd, Haywards Heath Tn, Heanor Tn, Heather St Johns, Hebburn Tn, Hednesford Tn, Helston Ath, Hemel Hempstead Tn, Hemsworth Miners Welfare, Hendon, Hereford, Hereford Lads Club, Herne Bay, Hertford Tn, Heybridge Swifts, Highgate Utd, Highworth Tn, Histon, Hitchin Tn, Hoddesdon Tn, Holbeach Utd, Hollands & Blair, Holmer Green, Holmesdale, Holyport, Horley Tn, Hornchurch, Horndean, Horsham, Horsham YMCA, Huddersfield Tn, Hull City, Hullbridge Sports, Hungerford Tn, Hyde Utd, Hythe & Dibden, Hythe Tn, Ilford, Ilfracombe Tn, Ilkeston Tn, Ipswich Tn, Irlam, Jersey Bulls, K Sports, Kempston Rvrs, Kendal Tn, Kennington, Kensington & Ealing Boro, Kettering Tn, Keynsham Tn, Kidderminster Harriers, Kidlington, Kidsgrove Ath, Kings Langley, King’s Lynn Tn, Kingstonian, Kirkley & Pakefield, Knaphill, Knaresborough Tn, Lakenheath, Lancaster City, Lancing, Larkhall Ath, Leamington, Leatherhead, Leeds Utd AFC, Leek Tn, Leicester City, Leicester Nirvana, Leicester Road, Leighton Tn, Leiston, Leverstock Green, Lewes, Leyton Orient, Lichfield City, Lincoln City, Lincoln Utd, Lingfield, Litherland Remyca, Little Common, Little Oakley, Littlehampton Tn, Liverpool, Liversedge, London Colney, Long Buckby, Long Eaton Utd, Long Melford, Longlevens, Longridge Tn, Lordswood, Loughborough Dynamo, Loughborough University, Lower Breck, Lowestoft Tn, Loxwood, Luton Tn, Lutterworth Tn, Lydney Tn, Lye Tn, Lymington Tn, Macclesfield, Maidenhead Utd, Maidstone Utd, Maldon & Tiptree, Maltby Main, Malvern Tn, Manchester City, Manchester Utd, Mangotsfield Utd, Mansfield Tn, March Tn Utd, Margate, Marine, Market Drayton Tn, Marlow, Marske Utd, Matlock Tn, Melksham Tn, Melton Tn, Merstham, Merthyr Tn, Metropolitan Police, Mickleover, Middlesbrough, Mildenhall Tn, Mile Oak, Millbrook, Millwall, Milton Keynes Dons, Milton Keynes Irish, Molesey, Moneyfields, Morecambe, Morpeth Tn, Mossley AFC, Mousehole, Mulbarton Wanderers, Nantwich Tn, Needham Market, New Salamis, Newark, Newcastle Benfield, Newcastle Tn, Newcastle Utd, Newhaven, Newmarket Tn, Newport County AFC, Newport Pagnell Tn, Newton Aycliffe, North Ferriby, North Greenford Utd, North Leigh, North Shields, Northallerton Tn, Northampton On Chenecks, Northampton Tn, Northwich Victoria, Northwood, Norwich City, Norwich Utd, Nottingham Forest, Notts County, Nuneaton Boro, Odd Down, Oldham Ath AFC, Ossett Utd, Oxford City, Oxford Utd, Oxhey Jets, Padiham, Pagham, Paulton Rvrs, Peacehaven & Telscombe, Penistone Church, Penrith AFC, Peterborough Northern Star, Peterborough Sports, Peterborough Utd, Phoenix Sports, Pickering Tn, Pinchbeck Utd, Plymouth Argyle, Plymouth Parkway, Pontefract Collieries, Poole Tn, Port Vale, Portland Utd, Portsmouth, Potters Bar Tn, Potton Utd, Prescot Cables, Preston North End, Prestwich Heys AFC, Punjab Utd, Queens Park Rangers, Quorn, Racing Club Warwick, Radcliffe, Ramsbottom Utd, Ramsgate, Raynes Park Vale, Reading City, Reading, Redbridge, Redcar Ath, Redditch Utd, Redhill, Risborough Rangers, Rochdale AFC, Roman Glass St George, Romford, Romulus, Rotherham Utd, Rothwell Corinthians, Royal Wootton Bassett Tn, Royston Tn, Rugby Tn, Runcorn Linnets, Runcorn Tn, Rushall Olympic, Rusthall, Saffron Walden Tn, Salford City, Salisbury, Saltash Utd, Saltdean Utd, Sawbridgeworth Tn, Scarborough Ath, Scunthorpe Utd, Seaham Red Star, Selston, Sevenoaks Tn, Shaftesbury, Sheerwater, Sheffield FC, Sheffield Utd, Sheffield Wednesday, Sheppey Utd, Shepshed Dynamo, Shepton Mallet AFC, Sherwood Colliery, Shifnal Tn, Shildon AFC, Sholing, Shrewsbury Tn, Shrivenham, Silsden AFC, Sittingbourne, Skegness Tn AFC, Skelmersdale Utd, Sleaford Tn, Slimbridge AFC, Slough Tn, Soham Tn Rangers, Solihull Moors, South Park, South Shields, Southall, Southampton, Southend Manor, Southend Utd, Southport, Spalding Utd, Spelthorne Sports, Spennymoor Tn, Sporting Bengal Utd, Sporting Khalsa, Squires Gate, St Albans City, St Ives Tn, St Margaretsbury, St Neots Tn, St Panteleimon, Stafford Rangers, Staines Tn, Stalybridge Celtic, Stamford AFC, Stansted, Stanway Rvrs, Staveley MW, Stevenage, Steyning Tn Community, Stockport County, Stocksbridge Park Steels, Stockton Tn, Stoke City, Stone Old Alleynians, Stourbridge, Stourport Swifts, Stowmarket Tn, Stratford Tn, Street, Sunderland AFC, Sunderland RCA, Sunderland Ryhope CW, Sutton Coldfield Tn, Sutton Common Rvrs, Sutton Utd, Swaffham Tn, Swansea City, Swindon Supermarine, Swindon Tn, Tadcaster Albion, Tadley Calleva, Takeley, Tamworth, Taunton Tn, Tavistock AFC, Thackley, Thame Utd, Thatcham Tn, Thetford Tn, Thornaby, Thornbury Tn, Three Bridges, Tilbury, Tiverton Tn, Tividale, Tonbridge Angels, Tooting & Mitcham Utd, Torquay Utd, Tottenham Hotspur, Tower Hamlets, Trafford, Tranmere Rvrs, Tring Ath, Truro City, Tuffley Rvrs, Tunbridge Wells, Utd Services Portsmouth, Uttoxeter Tn, Uxbridge, Vauxhall Motors, VCD Ath, Virginia Water, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Walsham Le Willows, Waltham Abbey, Walthamstow, Walton & Hersham, Walton Casuals, Wantage Tn, Ware, Warrington Rylands, Warrington Tn, Watford, Wealdstone, Welling Tn, Welling Utd, Wellingborough Tn, Wellington AFC, Welwyn Garden City, Wembley, West Allotment Celtic, West Auckland Tn, West Bromwich Albion, West Didsbury & Chorlton, West Essex, West Ham Utd, Westbury Utd, Westfield, Westfields, Weston Super Mare, Weymouth, Whickham, Whitby Tn, Whitchurch Alport, White Ensign, Whitehawk, Whitley Bay, Whitstable Tn, Whitton Utd, Whyteleafe, Widnes, Wigan Ath, Willand Rvrs, Wimborne Tn, Winchester City, Windsor, Wingate & Finchley, Winsford Utd, Winterton Rangers, Wisbech Tn, Witham Tn, Witton Albion, Woking, Wokingham & Emmbrook, Wolverhampton Casuals, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Woodbridge Tn, Woodford Tn, Worcester City, Workington AFC, Worksop Tn, Worthing, Wrexham AFC, Wroxham, Wycombe Wanderers, Wythenshawe Tn, Yate Tn, Yaxley, Yeovil Tn, York City, Yorkshire Amateur
