Matches were scheduled to be played at the stadium of the team named first on the date specified for each round, which was always a Saturday. Some matches, however, might be rescheduled for other days if there were clashes with games for other competitions or the weather was inclement. If scores were level after 90 minutes had been played, a replay would take place at the stadium of the second-named team later the same week. If the replayed match was drawn further replays would be held until a winner was determined. If scores were level after 90 minutes had been played in a replay, a 30-minute period of extra time would be played.
In the end only Burton Swifts, Grimsby Town and Northwich Victoria successfully won through to the competition proper, and they were joined by non-League sides Stockton, Shankhouse, Loughborough, Blackpool, Woolwich Arsenal, Marlow and Casuals. Stockton and Loughborough were featuring at this stage for the first time, with Loughborough never getting past the qualifying rounds again despite spending five seasons in the Football League from 1895.
To bring the number of teams in the first round up to 32, the FA awarded byes to that stage to Middlesbrough Ironopolis, Middlesbrough and Newcastle East End, the three clubs that had been unsuccessful in the Football League elections held during the 1892 close-season. However, by the time the first round matches were played in January 1893, Newcastle East End had taken over the assets of their defunct rival Newcastle West End and changed their name to Newcastle United.
