The 2001β02 FA Cup qualifying rounds opened the
121st 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 596 clubs were accepted for the competition, down six from the previous seasonβs 602.
The large number of clubs entering the tournament from lower down (
Levels 5 through 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.
Somerset Senior League and
South Western Football League were the only level 10 leagues represented in the Cup, three clubs from the leagues were the lowest-ranked clubs in competition. The 32 winning teams from fourth round Qualifying progressed to the
First round proper, where
League teams tiered at Levels 3 and 4 entered the competition.
Matches played on weekend of Saturday 17 August 2001. 24 clubs from
Level 8 and Level 9 of English football, entered at this stage of the competition, while other 303 clubs from levels 8-10 get a bye to the next rounds.
Matches played on weekend of Saturday 1 September 2001. A total of 402 clubs took part in this stage of the competition, including the 12 winners from the extra preliminary round, 302 clubs from Levels 8-10, who get a bye in the extra preliminary round and 88 entering at this stage from the four divisions at Level 7 of English football. The round featured three clubs from Level 10:
Falmouth Town and
St Blazey from the
South Western Football League and
Clevedon United from the
Somerset Senior League, being the lowest ranked clubs in this round.
Matches on weekend of 15 September 2001. A total of 202 clubs took part in this stage of the competition, 201 progressed from the preliminary round plus
AFC Sudbury from the
Eastern Counties Football League, who get a bye to this stage.
Falmouth Town and
St Blazey from the
South Western Football League at
Level 10 of English football were the lowest-ranked clubs to qualify for this round of the competition.
Matches played on weekend of 29 September 2001. A total of 168 clubs took part in this stage of the competition, including the 101 winners from the first qualifying round and 67
Level 6 clubs, from Premier divisions of the
Isthmian League,
Northern Premier League and
Southern Football League, entering at this stage. The round featured
St Blazey and
Falmouth Town from the
South Western Football League, being the lowest ranked clubs in this round. Also, eight clubs from Level 9 divisions were still in the competition.
Matches on weekend of 13 October 2001. A total of 84 clubs took part, all having progressed from the second qualifying round.
St Blazey from the
South Western Football League at
Level 10 of English football was the lowest-ranked club to qualify for this round of the competition.
Matches played on weekend of Saturday 27 October 2001. A total of 64 clubs took part, 42 having progressed from the third qualifying round and 22 clubs from
Football Conference, forming
Level 5 of English football, entering at this stage. The round featured four clubs from Level 8 still in the competition, being the lowest ranked clubs in this round.
The 2001β02 FA Cup qualifying rounds opened the
121st 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 596 clubs were accepted for the competition, down six from the previous seasonβs 602.
The large number of clubs entering the tournament from lower down (
Levels 5 through 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.
Somerset Senior League and
South Western Football League were the only level 10 leagues represented in the Cup, three clubs from the leagues were the lowest-ranked clubs in competition. The 32 winning teams from fourth round Qualifying progressed to the
First round proper, where
League teams tiered at Levels 3 and 4 entered the competition.
Matches played on weekend of Saturday 17 August 2001. 24 clubs from
Level 8 and Level 9 of English football, entered at this stage of the competition, while other 303 clubs from levels 8-10 get a bye to the next rounds.
Matches played on weekend of Saturday 1 September 2001. A total of 402 clubs took part in this stage of the competition, including the 12 winners from the extra preliminary round, 302 clubs from Levels 8-10, who get a bye in the extra preliminary round and 88 entering at this stage from the four divisions at Level 7 of English football. The round featured three clubs from Level 10:
Falmouth Town and
St Blazey from the
South Western Football League and
Clevedon United from the
Somerset Senior League, being the lowest ranked clubs in this round.
Matches on weekend of 15 September 2001. A total of 202 clubs took part in this stage of the competition, 201 progressed from the preliminary round plus
AFC Sudbury from the
Eastern Counties Football League, who get a bye to this stage.
Falmouth Town and
St Blazey from the
South Western Football League at
Level 10 of English football were the lowest-ranked clubs to qualify for this round of the competition.
Matches played on weekend of 29 September 2001. A total of 168 clubs took part in this stage of the competition, including the 101 winners from the first qualifying round and 67
Level 6 clubs, from Premier divisions of the
Isthmian League,
Northern Premier League and
Southern Football League, entering at this stage. The round featured
St Blazey and
Falmouth Town from the
South Western Football League, being the lowest ranked clubs in this round. Also, eight clubs from Level 9 divisions were still in the competition.
Matches on weekend of 13 October 2001. A total of 84 clubs took part, all having progressed from the second qualifying round.
St Blazey from the
South Western Football League at
Level 10 of English football was the lowest-ranked club to qualify for this round of the competition.
Matches played on weekend of Saturday 27 October 2001. A total of 64 clubs took part, 42 having progressed from the third qualifying round and 22 clubs from
Football Conference, forming
Level 5 of English football, entering at this stage. The round featured four clubs from Level 8 still in the competition, being the lowest ranked clubs in this round.