The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
Extra Preliminary Round
Friday 17, Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 August 2007
Click here for fixtures
The 127th FA Cup competition starts at the weekend with a record 171 ties in the Extra Preliminary Round.
That record reflects the fact that The Cup has attracted more entries than ever before. The new figure of 731 is, astonishingly, 44 more than last season’s all-time record.
The world-famous FA Cup, again sponsored by E.ON, resumes exactly 90 days since Chelsea beat Manchester United with Didier Drogba’s extra-time goal in the May showpiece at Wembley. It was the first Wembley final for seven years. (
Click here to watch highlights)
The colossal crowd of 89,826 inside the new stadium to see The Blues’ John Terry lift The Cup was the largest for a Final since Wimbledon’s shock win over Liverpool in 1988. There was a UK television audience of 12.9 million and the global figure was an estimated 450 million.
The attendances are likely to be more modest at the six ties on Friday evening. Two of them kick off at 7.30, a little earlier than the rest, so The Cup technically starts at Dinnington near Sheffield and at Marlow in Buckinghamshire.
Dinnington Town from the Northern Counties East League’s Division One welcome Maltby Main to Laughton Road and Marlow United from the Hellenic League Division One East entertain Cove.
Dinnington Town have never played in The Cup before, although “Dinnington Main Colliery” and “Dinnington Athletic” were participants up to 1928 and 1971 respectively. Marlow United are also making their Cup debut at the weekend, a different club to the “Marlow” who famously played in the first-ever competition.
The seven ties on Sunday include Sporting Bengal United v London APSA, the two Asian sides clashing at Mile End Stadium at 3pm.
For the full list of fixtures for this weekend's games, click here...