The FA Cup 1977–78 is the 97th season of the world's oldest football knockout competition; The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup for short.
The large number of clubs entering the tournament from lower down the English football league system meant that the competition started with a number of preliminary and qualifying rounds.
The 28 victorious teams from the fourth round qualifying progressed to the first round proper.
The teams that given byes to this round are Stafford Rangers, Wigan Athletic, Matlock Town, Altrincham, Morecambe, Dartford, Bishop's Stortford, Hendon, Grantham, Boston United, Kettering Town, Weymouth, Leatherhead, Hitchin Town, Tooting & Mitcham United, Marine, Minehead, Nuneaton Borough, Wealdstone and Northwich Victoria.
See 1977-78 FA Cup for details of the rounds from the first round proper onwards.