Advancing from the
qualifying rounds were
Chester,
Halliwell,
Middlesbrough Ironopolis,
Sunderland Albion,
Sheffield United,
Long Eaton Rangers,
Lincoln City,
Kidderminster,
Crusaders (based in
Leyton) and the team from the
93rd Highland Regiment, which was stationed in
Aldershot at this time. Middlesbrough Ironopolis, Kidderminster and the 93rd Highland Regiment were featuring at this stage for the first time, with the Highlanders having gone on what is now considered the first giant-killing run through the FA Cup qualifying rounds. The military team defeated future
Premier League members
Luton Town (at
Dunstable Road),
Watford,
Swindon Town and
Ipswich Town (at
Portman Road) to secure their place in the competition proper. In order to bring the number of teams up to 32, a further 10 non-League clubs entered the competition in the first round proper.
Stoke was exempted to this stage despite having been voted out of the
Football League at that year's Annual General Meeting, while
Clapton,
Nottingham Forest,
Darwen,
Crewe Alexandra,
Casuals,
The Wednesday,
Old Westminsters,
Birmingham St George's and
Royal Arsenal received byes. For information on all matches played from the preliminary round to the fourth qualifying round, see
1890–91 FA Cup qualifying rounds. ==First round proper==