FA Competitions - Season 2008-09
Details of the entries accepted, exemptions and the early round draws for The FA Cup, Trophy, Vase and Youth Cup competitions will be released on TheFA.com on 1 July 2008
It's already a record-breaking season for the 2008-09 FA Cup and the competition doesn't even start until the middle of August!
The number of clubs who've had their entries accepted - a fantastic 762 - beats an all-time record that was only set last season.
The 43 new entries include some who didn't take part last season but have done in previous seasons - and some who are now making their debuts in the world-famous competition.
Chichester City United of the Sussex County League, new this time, have already had six seasons in The Cup under that name. Before the amalgamation of Chichester City and Portfield, City's involvement dated back to the late 1940s. They won through to the First Round Proper once, in 1960, but were humbled 11-0 at Bristol City, then in the old Third Division.
In fact, the original "Chichester FC" were playing FA Cup football in the 1920s. Well, Chichester City United, we're glad to have you back.
We've had AFC Bournemouth (formerly Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic and, prior to that, Boscombe FC) and Bournemouth FC in The Cup for about a hundred years. Now we have two Gillinghams - Gillingham FC from League Two and a new entrant, Gillingham Town (pronounced with a hard "G"), who played in the Dorset Premier League last season.
Brading Town from the Isle Wight are new too and so are AFC Wulfrunians, who line up in the West Midlands (Regional) League and lifted last season's Birmingham FA Midweek Floodlit Cup.
AFC Fylde? That's the new name for Kirkham & Wesham, last season's FA Vase winners at Wembley. They've been in The Cup before - a very long time ago.
A complete list of this season's 762 entries shows a claim to fame for Mangotsfield United. They are right next to Manchester United! In theory they could even play them…and that's the magic of The FA Cup.
Log onto TheFA.com on Tuesday 1 July when we'll have first news of the draws for the earlier rounds of the 2008-09 FA Cup, Trophy, Vase and Youth Cup competitions...