The large number of clubs entering the tournament from lower down the English football league system meant that the competition started with an extra Preliminary and preliminary rounds prior to six qualifying rounds.
The five rounds from the extra preliminary to the third qualifying involved 430 teams from England and Wales.
These were arranged into 24 geographically based divisions which thereby created matches against local rival clubs and limited the travelling required.
Through a series of knock-out matches one team from each division progressed to the fourth qualifying round.
Key to abbreviations in tables below R=Replay (after first match being a draw) R2= Second Replay (usually played on a neutral ground) §=The away club agreed to switch the tie from their home ground †= result awarded (reason as indicated) The division comprised 20 teams, of which 8 of the generally smaller teams were drawn into the extra preliminary round to reduce the number to 16 teams required for 8 preliminary round ties.
The division comprised 13 teams from which 5 preliminary round ties were drawn, resulting in byes to the first qualifying round for three teams: Gnome Athletic, Hoffmanns Athletic and Clapton.
The division comprised 12 teams from which 4 preliminary round ties were drawn, resulting in byes to the first qualifying round for 4 teams: Wycombe Wanderers, Windsor & Eton, Slough and Chesham United.