2008–09 FA Cup

All teams that entered the competition, but were not members of the Premier League or The Football League, had to compete in the qualifying rounds to secure one of 32 places available in the first round proper. The winners from the fourth qualifying round were Curzon Ashton, Kettering Town, Barrow, Kidderminster Harriers, Cambridge United, Altrincham, Droylsden, Histon, Alfreton Town, Blyth Spartans, Mansfield Town, AFC Telford United, Fleetwood Town, Eastwood Town, Stevenage Borough, Brackley Town, Ebbsfleet United, Oxford United, AFC Wimbledon, Team Bath, Dorchester Town, Eastbourne Borough, Forest Green Rovers, Bury Town, Harlow Town, Grays Athletic, Evesham United, Sutton United, Torquay United, Leiston, Havant & Waterlooville and AFC Hornchurch. These teams came from the following levels: • 14 teams from Level 5 (Conference National) • 9 from Level 6: 5 Conference North, 4 Conference South • 6 from Level 7: 1 Northern Premier League, 2 Southern League, 3 Isthmian League • 2 from Level 8: Curzon Ashton of the NPL North and Bury Town of the Southern League Midland • 1 from Level 9: Leiston of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division Three 'phoenix' clubs were appearing in the main draw for the first time: AFC Telford United reached this stage four years after the demise of the original Telford United F.C., AFC Wimbledon were here four years after Wimbledon F.C. became Milton Keynes Dons and AFC Hornchurch qualified for the main draw three years after the demise of the original Hornchurch F.C. Of the other teams, Curzon Ashton, Brackley Town, Evesham United and Leiston were also appearing in the competition proper for the first time while Dorchester Town had last done so in 2000-01, Eastwood Town had last done so in 1999-2000, Blyth Spartans had last done so in 1997-98, Sutton United in 1995-96, Harlow Town in 1991-92 and Bury Town in 1968-69. ==First round proper==

All of the 24 League One and 24 League Two teams entered in this round, along with the winners of the previous round, the fourth qualifying round. The draw took place on 26 October 2008. The matches were played between 7 and 9 November 2008. † – After extra time ‡ – Grays' replay with Carlisle was abandoned the first time it was played after 20 minutes because of floodlight failure with Grays leading 1–0. Blyth Spartans, Droylsden and Histon beat teams from two levels higher. Kettering Town were the fourth non-league team to beat a league club. Curzon Ashton were the only club to beat a team from four levels higher, beating Exeter City. ==Second round proper==

The draw was held on 9 November 2008 and involved the 40 winning teams from the previous round. These were from the following levels: • 13 from Level 3 (League One) • 14 from Level 4 (League Two) • 7 from Level 5 (Conference National) • 4 from Level 6 (all Conference North) • 1 from Level 7 (Eastwood Town of the Northern Premier League Premier Division) • 1 from Level 8 (Curzon Ashton of the Northern Premier League North) The draw was conducted by Lawrie Sanchez and Ray Parlour. Matches in the second round proper were played over the weekend of 29 November 2008, with the exception of the match between Crewe Alexandra and Carlisle United, which was played on 3 December, due to the abandonment of the first-round game between Carlisle United and Grays Athletic. † – After extra time ‡ – Droylsden's first visit to Chesterfield was abandoned at half time due to fog. The first replay, two weeks later, was then abandoned after 70 minutes due to floodlight failure. 6 non-league clubs beat league clubs: Leeds United lost to Histon, while League Two clubs lost to Eastwood Town, Blyth Spartans, Barrow, Forest Green Rovers and Kettering Town. ==Third round proper==

The draw was held on 30 November 2008. The draw was carried out by Sir Trevor Brooking and Ray Clemence at Soho Square. The 20 Premier League and 24 Championship teams enter at this stage, along with the 20 winners from the previous round. These 20 teams came from the following levels: • 9 from Level 3 (League One) • 3 from Level 4 (League Two) • 6 from Level 5 (Conference National) • 1 from Level 6 (Blyth Spartans of the Conference North) • 1 from Level 7 (Eastwood Town of the Northern Premier League Premier Division) The matches were played between 2 and 5 January 2009, with the exception of the ties between Birmingham City and Wolverhampton Wanderers, Histon and Swansea City, Cheltenham Town and Doncaster Rovers, and Leyton Orient and Sheffield United, which were postponed until 13 January 2009. † – After extra time Torquay United were the only team to beat a team from three levels higher, while Hartlepool United were the only team to beat a team from two levels higher. ==Fourth round proper==

The draw was held on 4 January 2009. It comprised teams from the following levels: • 15 from the Premier League • 13 from the Championship • 2 from League One • 0 from League Two • 2 from the Conference National The draw was conducted by Roberto Di Matteo and Dave Beasant. Most of the matches were played on the weekend of 24 January 2009. A technical error during ITV's broadcast of the Everton–Liverpool replay meant that millions of viewers missed Dan Gosling's winner for Everton late in extra time. Coverage of the match was temporarily interrupted by advertisements, only for viewers to see Everton's players celebrating upon the restoration of the feed. ITV received thousands of complaints about the mistake, with many viewers questioning ITV's ability to broadcast live football, especially given their £275 million contract with The Football Association. ITV has subsequently apologised for the error. † – After extra time ==Fifth round proper==

The draw was held on 25 January 2009. It comprised ten teams from the Premier League and six from the Championship, and was conducted by Gary Mabbutt and Gary Pallister. The fifth-round matches were played on the weekend of 14 February 2009, with the exception of the tie between Arsenal and Burnley, after Arsenal's fourth round replay with Cardiff City was postponed due to snow. The match was played on 8 March 2009. ==Sixth round proper==

The draw was held on 15 February 2009. It comprised seven teams from the Premier League and Coventry City from the Championship. It was conducted by Frank McLintock and Graeme Souness. The matches were played on the weekend of 7 March 2009, with the exception of the tie between Arsenal and Hull City, which was played on 17 March. {{football box ---- {{football box ---- {{football box ---- {{football box ==Semi-finals==

The draw was held on 8 March 2009, and was conducted by Bob Wilson and Joe Royle. The semi-final matches were played at Wembley Stadium, on the weekend of 18 April 2009. Unlike the previous rounds, replays were not held if a match ended as a draw; if necessary, extra time was added and a penalty shoot-out was held immediately after the match. {{football box ---- ==Final==

In the United Kingdom, ITV regained the free to air broadcasting rights from the BBC who held on to it after seven seasons while Setanta Sports took over the subscription broadcasting rights from Sky Sports who held on to it for 20 seasons. The matches shown live on ITV1 (most regions) were: • Havant & Waterlooville 1-3 Brentford (R1) • Histon 1-0 Leeds United (R2) • Preston North End 0-2 Liverpool (R3) • Gillingham 1-2 Aston Villa (R3) • Southend United 1-4 Chelsea (R3 Replay) • Hartlepool United 0-2 West Ham United (R4) • Manchester United 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur (R4) • Everton 1-0 Liverpool (R4 Replay) • Swansea City 1-1 Fulham (R5) • Derby County 1-4 Manchester United (R5) • Middlesbrough 2-0 West Ham United (R5 Replay) • Coventry City 0-2 Chelsea (QF) • Fulham 0-4 Manchester United (QF) • Manchester United 0-0 Everton (SF) • Chelsea 2-1 Everton (Final) The matches shown live on Setanta Sports were: • Leeds United 1-1 Northampton Town (R1) • AFC Wimbledon 1-4 Wycombe Wanderers (R1) • Tranmere Rovers 1-0 Accrington Stanley (R1 Replay) • Northampton Town 2-5 Leeds United (R1 Replay) • Barrow 2-1 Brentford (R2) • AFC Bournemouth 0-0 Blyth Spartans (R2) • Kettering Town 2-1 Notts County (R2 Replay) • Blyth Spartans 1-0 AFC Bournemouth (R2 Replay) • Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Wigan Athletic (R3) • Southampton 0-3 Manchester United (R3) • Blyth Spartans 0-1 Blackburn Rovers (R3) • Bristol City 0-2 Portsmouth (R3 Replay) • Derby County 1-1 Nottingham Forest (R4) • Cardiff City 0-0 Arsenal (R4) • Liverpool 1-1 Everton (R4) • Arsenal 4-0 Cardiff City (R4 Replay) • Watford 1-3 Chelsea (R5) • Everton 3-1 Aston Villa (R5) • Arsenal 3-0 Burnley (R5) • Hull City 2-1 Sheffield United (R5 Replay) • Everton 2-1 Middlesbrough (QF) • Arsenal 2-1 Hull City (QF) • Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea (SF) • Chelsea 2-1 Everton (Final) International broadcasters ==References==