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]
Quick Facts Football Association Trophy, Tournament details ...
2019–20 FA Trophy| Football Association Trophy |
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| Country | England
Guernsey
Wales |
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| Dates | Qualifying rounds: 28 September 2019 – 14 December 2019
Competition Proper: 14 December 2019 – 3 May 2021 |
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| Defending champions | AFC Fylde |
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|
| Champions | Harrogate Town (1st title) |
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| Runner-up | Concord Rangers |
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|
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The competition was paused at the semi-final stage due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The competition resumed in September 2020, [2]
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 |
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]
More information Concord Rangers (6), 2–1 ...
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More information Notts County (5), 0–1 ...
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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]
More information Concord Rangers, 0–1 ...
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