The 1920–21 FA Cup was the 46th season of the world's oldest football knockout competition; the Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup for short. The large number of clubs entering the tournament from lower down the English football league system meant that the competition started with an Extra Preliminary and Preliminary rounds prior to six Qualifying rounds. The 12 victorious teams from the Sixth Round Qualifying (from the 466 who contested the qualifying phase) progressed to the First Round Proper. Rounds: draw and playing dates and number of teams Extra Preliminary to Third Qualifying Round The five rounds from the Extra Preliminary to the Third Qualifying involved 430 teams from England and Wales. These were arranged into 24 geographically based Divisions which thereby created matches against local rival clubs and limited the travelling required. Through a series of knock-out matches one team from each Division progressed to the fourth qualifying round. Key to abbreviations in tables below R=Replay (after first match being a draw) R2= Second Replay (usually played on a neutral ground) §=The away club agreed to switch the tie from their home ground †= result awarded (reason as indicated) Division 1 (Northumberland / Tyneside / Wearside) The division comprised 20 teams, of which 8 of the generally smaller teams were drawn into the Extra Preliminary round to reduce the number to 16 teams required for 8 Preliminary round ties. Division 2 (County Durham / Tyneside / Wearside) The division comprised 18 teams, of which 4 of the generally smaller teams were drawn into the Extra Preliminary round to reduce the number to 16 teams required for 8 Preliminary round ties. Division 3 (County Durham / North Yorkshire / East Riding of Yorkshire) The division comprised 20 teams, of which 8 of the generally smaller teams were drawn into the Extra Preliminary round to reduce the number to 16 teams required for 8 Preliminary round ties. Division 4 (Cumbria) The division comprised 14 teams from which 6 Preliminary round ties were drawn, resulting in byes to the First Qualifying round for 2 teams: Cleator Moor Celtic and Carlisle United. Division 5 (Lancashire) The division comprised 13 teams from which 5 Preliminary round ties were drawn, resulting in byes to the First Qualifying round for 3 teams: Chorley, Leyland and Horwich RMI. Division 6 (Lancashire / Cheshire / Derbyshire) The division comprised 13 teams from which 5 Preliminary round