The FA Cup, from this season onwards, began to incorporate a series of qualifying rounds in order to determine qualifiers for the actual Cup competition itself. The qualifying rounds were made up of amateur teams, semi-professional teams, and professional sides not yet associated with the Football League. The only game to be played on Christmas Day took place, Linfield Athletic beating Cliftonville 7–0.[1]Everton became the first Football League team to withdraw from the Cup after drawing Ulster in the first qualifying round.[2]
See 1888–89 FA Cup for details of the rounds from the First Round onwards.
