FA Cup...

[BartonRaz]

Anyone keeping an eye on the early rounds? I always find it interesting to see which little teams manage to progress the furthest.

I think all Step 6 sides are now out which is a shame, last year Hebburn Town managed to reach the 4th Qual Round before losing 3-0 away at Gateshead. The following Step 5 sides are in the hat for the 3rd Qual Round draw though...

Westfields, Badshot Lea, Dereham, Dunstable, Harefield, South Park, Tadcaster, Blackfield & Langley, West Auckland.

Westfields held BSN Solihull Moors to a draw away from home on Saturday, which is probably the most impressive result of the round. West Auckland also managed to draw with BSN side Harrogate Town.

I think the draw for the next round is at midday today.

[rushdenshireelite]

Fingers crossed we will be in the hat next year

[Biggles]

Fingers crossed we will be in the hat next year

Not sure if we will be in the F.A. Cup until the following season.

I think according to the new F.A rules on new start clubs, that you start with F.A Vase, then the following season F.A Trophy then the season after the F.A Cup, of course it also depends on which Step of the leagues you are in.

[Everyweeker]

Fingers crossed we will be in the hat next year

Not sure if we will be in the F.A. Cup until the following season.

I think according to the new F.A rules on new start clubs, that you start with F.A Vase, then the following season F.A Trophy then the season after the F.A Cup.

This isn't correct.

The Vase is for clubs between (roughly) Step 7 and Step 5.

The Trophy is for clubs from Step 1 to Step 4.

They are separate entities entirely. Clubs must play in the Vase prior to entry into the FA Cup, so we will be eligible next year assuming we finish high enough in our Step 6 league.

[Biggles]

OK, i thought it might depend on which Step you are in but then again the F.A may just change the rules again in the meantime, they do like to tinker with the Structure of the League and Competitions.

[rushdenshireelite]

OK, i thought it might depend on which Step you are in but then again the F.A may just change the rules again in the meantime, they do like to tinker with the Structure of the League and Competitions.

I assumed if we were in the prem we were in the hat! Didn't know it might be effected by being a new club! Then again we are talking about the f.a

[Biggles]

Had another look at what happened to Chester and if no changes since to the rules we cannot enter the F.A cup until we have played one season in the F.A Trophy so if that is correct it seems we will have to wait to 2014-2015 for the F.A Cup assuming we get promotion that is.

[Everyweeker]

Had another look at what happened to Chester and if no changes since to the rules we cannot enter the F.A cup until we have played one season in the F.A Trophy so if that is correct it seems we will have to wait to 2014-2015 for the F.A Cup assuming we get promotion that is.

To repeat the point, at this level, you need to have completed on season in the Vase, as teams are not eligible for the Trophy until they reach Step 4. Under the above, no-one apart from relegated teams would be able to enter the FA Cup from Step 5!

We will be able to at least enter next season, pending finishing high enough up the league this season.

[Biggles]

Look at my age trying to understand F.A rules and Steps in a Pyramid is very hard, now start again please, where actually are we and when do we win this F.A cup :?

[Everyweeker]

You cannot compete in the FA Cup unless you competed in the FA Vase the previous season (this is the rule that affects us, I cannot comment on rules higher up the pyramid).

We did not play in the Vase in 11/12, therefore we could not compete in the Cup in 12/13.

We are playing in the Vase in 12/13, so will be eligible for the Cup in 13/14.

The only thing that would halt our entry would be if our ground was not sufficiently graded, or we finished with a 'points-per-game' total that had us so far down the list of entries that we were not permitted to enter. By finishing as high up the league as we should this season (at least 4th), I doubt that this will be a problem.

Thus, we should enter the Cup next season.

In 13/14, we will fail to win the Cup, losing to West Ham in a 4th round replay. However, we will win the Cup in 14/15, and thus qualify for a Europa League spot. At present, I don't know if we are sufficiently graded at the Dog and Duck to host Galatasaray (though I know Pigman and co have learned lessons from the Whitworths game for future reference...).

Hope this helps ;)