The FA Cup 1987-88 is the 107th 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 Lincoln City, Maidstone United, Enfield, Boston United, Runcorn, Bath City, Dagenham, Wealdstone, Nuneaton Borough, Frickley Athletic, Dartford, Bishop's Stortford, Bognor Regis Town, Farnborough Town, Whitby Town, Chelmsford City, Slough Town, V S Rugby, Caernarfon Town and Chorley.
See 1987-88 FA Cup for details of the rounds from the first round proper onwards.