[1] According to the current rules of the competition, it is open to all clubs whose first affiliation is with the CFA.
[2] Currently Carlisle United are the only professional team from the football league in the competition since Workington left the football league in 1977, so as a result they now tend to enter their reserve team.
Other teams that enter are Workington, Cleator Moor Celtic, Penrith, Carlisle City, Whitehaven, and Windscale are from different levels of non-league.
In previous years Scottish teams such as Annan Athletic, Gretna and Hearts of Liddesdale have also entered the competition due to being in the Carlisle and District League at the time.
In Annan and Gretna's case they have even won the competition several times.