[VON9905]

I asked this question a few months ago, and I was thinking of asking this in the Games forum, but I want to know if the Carling Cup is a competition between the First, Second, and Third Divisions of England? I was told this before, but when I went to play in the competition in FIFA 2004, there were Premiership teams in the League Cup, so there was no difference between it and the FA Cup in the game. I want to know if I was given wrong information or if the game is just a bit off for allowing Premiership teams to compete. If anyone doesn't mind, I have another question: at what round do the losers of the group stages of the Champions League go play in the UEFA Cup? Thanks for any info you guys can help me with. I am playing FIFA 2004 and these two competitions are confusing what I thought I knew about them.


-Von

[erictheking]

The carling cup is a competition for all teams from the prem, 1st - 3rd divs plus I think a few of the top place conference teams have been allowed in for the past couple of years.

The 3rd placed teams from the group stage of the champions league go into the UEFA cup

[John Boy]

The Carling Cup is limited to the 92 clubs in the Premier League and Football League (i.e. Divisions One, Two & Three).

[Boro_lad]

while the fa cup has non league team competeing. That is the differance between the 2

[LMvCP]

How long is the qualification process for the FA cup for a team that does not pertain to the FA Premiere League and Nationwide Football leagues?

[Peakite]

There are two preliminary rounds followed by four qualifying rounds. A Conference club would have to win just one game (the fourth qualifying round) to get into the first round, those in the feeders would have three to play. The extra preliminary round is the first to be played, only a few games there, between teams several divisions below the Conference. Expect it to change a little with the forthcoming reorganisation of the pyramid though.

[RichardL]

Originally Posted by rdl674

How long is the qualification process for the FA cup for a team that does not pertain to the FA Premiere League and Nationwide Football leagues?

in length of time, they start at the end of August.

The qualifying rounds of the FA Cup are regional, drawn in 'groups' of 8. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd qualifying rounds whittle these groups down to just 1 team. Depending on the region, there may be a further one or two preliminary qualifying rounds for teams to qualify for qualifying round one. The winners of the groups then go into a draw with the best non-league teams, for a fourth qualifying round. The winners of the fourth qualifying round go into the first round draw with the teams from divisions 2 & 3. The winners of that play a second round of matches, and the winners of those go into a draw for the third round, along with the teams from the premiership and division 1.

In all, around 600 teams usually take part.

[DAGSports]

Originally Posted by RichardL

in length of time, they start at the end of August.

The qualifying rounds of the FA Cup are regional, drawn in 'groups' of 8. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd qualifying rounds whittle these groups down to just 1 team. Depending on the region, there may be a further one or two preliminary qualifying rounds for teams to qualify for qualifying round one. The winners of the groups then go into a draw with the best non-league teams, for a fourth qualifying round. The winners of the fourth qualifying round go into the first round draw with the teams from divisions 2 & 3. The winners of that play a second round of matches, and the winners of those go into a draw for the third round, along with the teams from the premiership and division 1.

In all, around 600 teams usually take part.

Yes, pretty long and complex stuff. The FA's website has the rules of the competition. So many teams enter because the only requirements are that a team find a ground where they can charge for tickets and that has acceptable and separate locker rooms/bathrooms for the teams and officials.

Since most English teams play in public parks (and remember, every team in the qualifying round is amateur unless you're talking about a team recently relegated from Division Three), I would think ground-sharing is fairly common.

[RichardL]

Originally Posted by DAGSports

Since most English teams play in public parks (and remember, every team in the qualifying round is amateur unless you're talking about a team recently relegated from Division Three), I would think ground-sharing is fairly common.

Not true. Pretty much every single team that enters the FA Cup own their own ground. Instances of people renting a ground and entering a team on a whim are rare. In fact I'd go as far as to say that I've never heard of such a case happening. There are a heck of a lot of leagues below league level, more than enough to fill 600 places.


Parks football (sunday league) and non-league football (saturday leagues) are completely different things. Parks football is just organised recreational football, pub teams etc, wheareas non-league football is for clubs representing their towns and villages etc. There are even a few pro teams at the 6th level (i.e. 2 divisions below Div 3) but the majority are part-time even at 7th level (which encompasses the top 200 or so teams outside the football league.

[DAGSports]

Originally Posted by RichardL

Not true. Pretty much every single team that enters the FA Cup own their own ground. Instances of people renting a ground and entering a team on a whim are rare. In fact I'd go as far as to say that I've never heard of such a case happening. There are a heck of a lot of leagues below league level, more than enough to fill 600 places.


Parks football (sunday league) and non-league football (saturday leagues) are completely different things. Parks football is just organised recreational football, pub teams etc, wheareas non-league football is for clubs representing their towns and villages etc. There are even a few pro teams at the 6th level (i.e. 2 divisions below Div 3) but the majority are part-time even at 7th level (which encompasses the top 200 or so teams outside the football league.

Thanks for clearing that up. Amazing how many football clubs there actually are in England.