The 2009–10 FA Cup is the 129th season of the world's oldest football knockout competition; The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup for short. As in the previous year, 762 clubs were accepted for the competition. One club, Newcastle Blue Star, folded before the fixtures were released. As they were scheduled to enter the competition in the First Round Qualifying, their opponents in this round will receive a walkover. The large number of clubs entering the tournament from lower down the English football league system will mean that the competition has to start with a number of preliminary and qualifying rounds. The 32 victorious teams from the Fourth Round Qualifying will progress to the First Round Proper.