1996–97 FA Cup qualifying rounds

The 1996–97 FA Cup qualifying rounds opened the 116th season of competition in England for 'The Football Association Challenge Cup' (FA Cup), the world's oldest association football single knockout competition. A total of 574 clubs were accepted for the competition, down one from the previous season's 575.

The large number of clubs entering the tournament from lower down (Levels 5 through 8) in the English football pyramid meant that the competition started with five rounds of preliminary (1) and qualifying (4) knockouts for these non-League teams. The 28 winning teams from fourth round qualifying progressed to the First round proper, where League teams tiered at Levels 3 and 4 entered the competition.

4th qualifying round
The teams that given byes to this round are Kidderminster Harriers, Bromsgrove Rovers, Altrincham, Telford United, Slough Town, Runcorn, Witton Albion, Sutton United, Nuneaton Borough, Hitchin Town, Kingstonian, Gravesend & Northfleet, Ashford Town (Kent), Barrow, Blyth Spartans, Spennymoor United, Colwyn Bay, Newport I O W, Cinderford Town and Bognor Regis Town.

1996-97 FA Cup
See 1996-97 FA Cup for details of the rounds from the first round proper onwards.