FA COMPETITIONS: Update on FA Cup & FA Trophy

The Football Association contacted clubs earlier this week with important dates relating to their cup competitions this season. On Friday the 13th of June 2025, the FA will publish the round dates for The Emirates FA Cup, The Isuzu FA Trophy and The FA Youth Cup.

Two weeks later they will publish the list of clubs accepted into each competition. As last season, the Reds have applied for the FA Cup and FA Trophy, however, with the U18s side graduating to Under 23s football, our place in the FA Youth Cup will be filled by Pro:Direct Academy Leicester, who will play at The Stotto Stadium, once again under the Quorn banner.

That announcement from the 27th of June will also detail prize money for every stage of the competitions, as well as a list of exemptions. If the competitions follow the same pattern as last season, the Reds should enter the FA Cup in the 1st Qualifying Round, which would already mark the clubs furthest progression since reaching that stage in 2020, when Matlock Town visited Farley Way, running out 2-0 victors. The Reds have only reached the first qualifying round eight times in their 101 year history.

Quorn are expected to join the FA Trophy in the third qualifying round, a stage the club has reached only twice before, beating Telford United 2-0 in 2023/24, and losing 3-2 at home to Vauxhall Motors in 2009/10. The Academy would likely enter not receive any byes and start right at the beginning of the qualifying rounds.

A week later, on Friday the 4th of July, the first draws will be announced, with details of the Extra Preliminary Round and Preliminary Round of the FA Cup, as well as the Preliminary Round & First Round Qualifying Rounds of the FA Trophy. The FA Youth Cup Extra Preliminary Round & Preliminary Round draws will also be announced at the same time.