2019–20 FA Trophy

2019–20 FA Trophy
Football Association Trophy
Tournament details
CountryEngland
Guernsey
Wales
DatesQualifying rounds: 28 September 2019 – 14 December 2019 Competition Proper: 14 December 2019 – 3 May 2021
Defending championsAFC Fylde
Final positions
ChampionsHarrogate Town (1st title)
Runner-upConcord Rangers

The 2019–20 FA Trophy (known for sponsorship reasons as the Buildbase FA Trophy) was the 51st season of the FA Trophy, an annual football competition for teams at levels 5-8 of the English National League System. The competition consisted of two preliminary rounds, three qualifying rounds, and six proper rounds. All matches until the semi-finals were held as a single-match knockout format with reversed replays after first-leg matches drawn in regulation time. The semi-finals were scheduled to be two-legged, but due to their delay by the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom they were shifted to single matches, with no replays. The final was a single-match held at Wembley Stadium and decided in extra time or penalties if tied after regulation. First-leg ties throughout the competition could be decided by extra time or penalties if both teams agree and notify the referee at least 45 minutes before kickoff, in accordance with FA Trophy Rule 11(a).[1]

The competition was paused at the semi-final stage due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The competition resumed in September 2020, [2]

Calendar

The calendar for the 2019–20 Buildbase FA Trophy, as announced by The Football Association.[3]

Round Main Date Number of Fixtures Clubs Remaining New Entries This Round Prize Money
Extra preliminary round 28 September 2019 28 296 → 268 56 £ 2,000
Preliminary round 12 October 2019 56 268 → 212 84 £ 3,000
First round qualifying 26 October 2019 72 212 → 140 88 £ 3,250
Second round qualifying 9 November 2019 36 140 → 104 0 £ 4,000
Third round qualifying 23 November 2019 40 104 → 64 44 £ 5,000
First round proper 14 December 2019 32 64 → 32 24 £ 6,000
Second round proper 11 January 2020 16 32 → 16 0 £ 7,000
Third round proper 8 February 2020 8 16 → 8 0 £ 8,000
Fourth round proper 29 February 2020 4 8 → 4 0 £ 10,000
Semi-finals September 2020 2 4 → 2 0 £ 20,000
Final 3 May 2021 1 2 → 1 0 Runners-up £ 30,000
Winners £ 60,000

Extra preliminary round

[4]

Preliminary round

[5]

First round qualifying

[6]

Second round qualifying

[7]

Third round qualifying

[8]

First round proper

[9]

Second round proper

[10]

Third round proper

[11]

Fourth round proper

[12]

Semi-finals

Originally scheduled for March 2020, the two-legged semi-finals were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The FA declared their intention to complete the tournament, but with an uncertain timeframe. [13] In late August 2020, they scheduled the semi-finals as single matches in September, with a date of 27 September for the final at Wembley. The final, alongside the FA Vase final held as part of the same event, was to be among the matches trialling the return of spectators to elite football after the height of the first wave of the pandemic in the UK,[2] but this was further postponed following new restrictions on gatherings in England that were enacted on 14 September 2020 as COVID-19 cases increased.[14]

Concord Rangers (6)2–1Halesowen Town (8)
 Report
  • Gregory 7'
Thames Road, Canvey Island
Attendance: 0
Referee: Sam Purkiss
Notts County (5)0–1Harrogate Town (5)[a]
Report Smith 45+1'
Attendance: 0
Referee: Will Finnie

Final

Main article: 2020 FA Trophy Final

The final was rescheduled for 27 September 2020 however this was postponed as the FA hoped to have spectators in the final. The date was then agreed for 3 May 2021 behind closed doors as a suitable solution could not be reached to be played with fans.[15]

Concord Rangers0–1Harrogate Town[a]
Report
Attendance: 0
Referee: Peter Bankes

Notes

  1. ^ a b Between the fourth round and the semi-finals, Harrogate were promoted to the Football League through the National League play-offs after the season had finished on an average points-per-game basis due to curtailment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

  1. ^ "The Buildbase FA Trophy Round Dates, 2019-20". The Football Association. 8 June 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Football Association pick hosts for one-legged Vase and Trophy semis". Non-League Football Paper. 28 August 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  3. ^ "The Buildbase FA Trophy Match Dates, 2019-20". The Football Association. 8 June 2019.
  4. ^ "First FA Trophy Rounds Drawn". The Non-League Paper. 12 July 2019.
  5. ^ "First FA Trophy Rounds Drawn". The Non-League Paper. 12 July 2019.
  6. ^ "WE HAD THE LATEST DRAWS IN THE BUILDBASE FA TROPHY AND VASE MADE AT WEMBLEY ON MONDAY". The Football Association. 14 October 2019.
  7. ^ "THE BUILDBASE FA TROPHY SECOND ROUND QUALIFYING DRAW WAS MADE AT WEMBLEY ON MONDAY". The Football Association. 28 October 2019.
  8. ^ "THE DRAW FOR THE THIRD ROUND QUALIFYING OF THE BUILDBASE FA TROPHY HAS BEEN MADE". The Football Association. 11 November 2019.
  9. ^ "FIND OUT HOW THE BUILDBASE FA TROPHY FIRST ROUND LOOKS AFTER MONDAY'S DRAW". The Football Association. 25 November 2019.
  10. ^ "THE DRAW FOR THE SECOND ROUND OF THE BUILDBASE FA TROPHY WAS MADE ON MONDAY". The Football Association. 16 December 2019.
  11. ^ "THE LATEST DRAWS FOR BOTH THE BUILDBASE FA TROPHY AND FA VASE HAVE BEEN MADE". www.thefa.com. 13 January 2020.
  12. ^ Association, The Football. "The Buildbase FA Trophy and Vase quarter-final draws are now complete". www.thefa.com. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  13. ^ "Halesowen given hope in Trophy quest". Express & Star. Wolverhampton: MNA Media. 1 May 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  14. ^ "Football Association postpones FA Trophy and FA Vase finals". BBC Sport. 11 September 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  15. ^ "BUILDBASE FA TROPHY AND VASE FINALS FOR 2020 AND 2021 HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED FOR WEMBLEY". www.thefa.com. 11 March 2021.

External links