The 2015–16 FA Trophy was the 46th season of the FA Trophy, the Football Association's cup competition for teams at levels 5–8 of the English football league system. A total of 276 clubs entered the competition, which was won by FC Halifax Town after beating Grimsby Town 1-0 in front of 46,781 spectators at Wembley in the final on 22 May 2016.
Calendar Round Main date Number of fixtures Clubs New entries this round Prize money Preliminary round 3 October 2015 64 276 → 212 128 £2,500 First round qualifying 31 October 2015 72 212 → 140 80 £2,700 Second round qualifying 14 November 2015 36 140 → 104 none £3,250 Third round qualifying 28 November 2015 40 104 → 64 44 £4,000 First round proper 12 December 2015 32 64 → 32 24 £5,000 Second round proper 16 January 2016 16 32 → 16 none £6,000 Third round proper 6 February 2016 8 16 → 8 none £7,000 Fourth round proper 27 February 2016 4 8 → 4 none £8,000 Semi-finals 12 March and 19 March 2016 2 4 → 2 none £16,000 Final 22 May 2016 1 2 → 1 none Runner-up £25,000Winner £50,000
Preliminary round A total of 128 clubs, from Level 8 of English football, entered preliminary round of the competition. Eight clubs from level 8 get a bye to the first round qualifying - AFC Hornchurch, Bedford Town, Brighouse Town, Chatham Town, Goole, Kings Langley, Peacehaven & Telscombe and Swindon Supermarine.
Tie Home team (tier) Score Away team (tier) 1 Burscough (8) 2–0 Bamber Bridge (8) 2122 Ossett Town (8) 1–2 Warrington Town (8) 1013 Shaw Lane Aquaforce (8) 3–0 New Mills (8) 1654 Lancaster City (8) 1–1 Northwich Victoria (8) 189 Northwich Victoria (8) 4–0 Lancaster City (8) 1235 Farsley Celtic (8) 4–0 Prescot Cables (8) 1156 Witton Albion (8) 2–2 Ossett Albion (8) 193 Ossett Albion (8) 0–2 Witton Albion (8) 1017 Sheffield (8) 4–1 Trafford (8) 1778 Mossley (8) 1–0 Harrogate Railway Athletic (8) 1079 Glossop North End (8) 1–1 Spennymoor Town (8) 369 Spennymoor Town (8) 3–2 Glossop North End (8) 38510 Clitheroe (8) 1–2 Stocksbridge Park Steels (8) 18611 Radcliffe Borough (8) 2–1 Droylsden (8) 13712 Kendal Town (8) 4–0 Scarborough Athletic (8) 21313 Newcastle Town (8) 5–4 Spalding United (8) 6014 St Ives Town (8) 4–2 Rugby Town (8) 20515 Stafford Rangers (8) 3–1 Tividale (8) 42016 Soham Town Rangers (8) 1–3 Carlton Town (8) 7517 Leek Town (8) 1–3 Lincoln United (8) 20718 Loughborough Dynamo (8) 0–3 Kidsgrove Athletic (8) 9019 AFC Rushden & Diamonds (8) 1–3 Basford United (8) 39120 Romulus (8) 0–0 Gresley (8) 113 Gresley (8) 2–1 Romulus (8) 15221 Belper Town (8) 1–0 Market Drayton Town (8) 16822 Coalville Town (8) 3–2 Daventry Town (8) 12823 Chasetown (8) 1–1 Evesham United (8) 203 Evesham United (8) 2–1 Chasetown (8) 16324 Northwood (8) 1–1 Potters Bar Town (8) 96 Potters Bar Town (8) 0–1 Northwood (8) 6925 Thurrock (8) 2–0 Guernsey (8) 12226 Witham Town (8) 2–4 Herne Bay (8) 11227 Arlesey Town (8) 1–1 Redbridge (8) 89 Redbridge (8) 2–0 Arlesey Town (8) 6128 Hanwell Town (8) 1–2 Cheshunt (8) 4829 Walton Casuals (8) 1–0 Sittingbourne (8) 8530 Chalfont St Peter (8) 3–0 Beaconsfield SYCOB (8) 9131 Aylesbury United (8) 1–2 Heybridge Swifts (8) 182
Tie Home team (tier) Score Away team (tier) 32 Whyteleafe (8) 0–1 Phoenix Sports (8) 8633 Corinthian Casuals (8) 2–1 Three Bridges (8) 10234 Barton Rovers (8) 1–1 AFC Sudbury (8) 121 AFC Sudbury (8) 4–3 Barton Rovers (8) 13335 Royston Town (8) 3–0 Great Wakering Rovers (8) 10836 Wroxham (8) 2–3 Hastings United (8) 11237 Maldon & Tiptree (8) 2–3 Ramsgate (8) 12238 Faversham Town (8) 0–1 Bury Town (8) 17439 Carshalton Athletic (8) 0–2 Leighton Town (8) 11040 Folkestone Invicta (8) 1–1 Haringey Borough (8) 244 Haringey Borough (8) 1–0 Folkestone Invicta (8) 7041 Dereham Town (8) 1–2 Waltham Abbey (8) 9942 Tooting & Mitcham United (8) 3–2 Walton & Hersham (8) 13643 Tilbury (8) 5–0 Barkingside (8) 5444 Chipstead (8) 2–1 Uxbridge (8) 4045 Whitstable Town (8) 2–4 Worthing (8) 15446 Harlow Town (8) 3–1 Ware (8) 28447 Thamesmead Town (8) 1–1 Brightlingsea Regent (8) 38 Brightlingsea Regent (8) 1–4 Thamesmead Town (8) 5348 Romford (8) 3–2 North Greenford United (8) 7649 Cray Wanderers (8) 2–3 East Grinstead Town (8) 7650 Aveley (8) 1–4 South Park (8) 4251 Aylesbury (8) 3–0 Hythe Town (8) 7852 Tiverton Town (8) 2–0 AFC Totton (8) 18053 Slimbridge (8) 0–1 Egham Town (8) 4554 Taunton Town (8) 4–1 Godalming Town (8) 21555 Bishop's Cleeve (8) 2–4 North Leigh (8) 6656 Yate Town (8) 1–3 Banbury United (8) 14157 Molesey (8) 5–1 Fleet Town (8) 6758 Larkhall Athletic (8) 3–1 Wimborne Town (8) 9459 Bashley (8) 1–0 Cinderford Town (8) 7560 Mangotsfield United (8) 4–3 Shortwood United (8) 10361 Marlow (8) 5–2 Wantage Town (8) 8662 Didcot Town (8) 0–0 Bridgwater Town (8) 118 Bridgwater Town (8) 1–3 Didcot Town (8) 10763 Burnham (8) 0–2 Dorking Wanderers (8) 4164 Petersfield Town (8) 1–3 Winchester City (8) 136
First round qualifying First round qualifying fixtures were due to be played on 31 October 2015, with replays taking place no later than 6 November. A total of 144 teams took part in this stage of the competition including 64 winners from the preliminary round, 72 teams from Level 7 of English football and eight teams from level 8, who get a bye in the previous round.
Tie Home team (tier) Score Away team (tier) 1 Marine (7) 1–0 Sheffield (8) 2592 Witton Albion (8) 1–2 Radcliffe Borough (8) 1533 Buxton (7) 2–1 Frickley Athletic (7) 1514 Blyth Spartans (7) 4–0 Kendal Town (8) 4425 Shaw Lane Aquaforce (8) 4–3 Farsley Celtic (8) 1826 Workington (7) 0–3 Whitby Town (7) 3437 Northwich Victoria (8) 1–2 Stocksbridge Park Steels (8) 1688 Nantwich Town (7) 2–1 Salford City (7) 5509 Spennymoor Town (8) 6–0 Goole (8) 41110 Ashton United (7) 2–2 Ramsbottom United (7) 138 Ramsbottom United (7) Ashton United (7) 15111 Skelmersdale United (7) 3–3 Hyde United (7) 209 Hyde United (7) A–A Skelmersdale United (7) Tie abandoned after 22 minutes due to fog Hyde United (7) 0–1 Skelmersdale United (7) 22412 Warrington Town (8) 2–0 Brighouse Town (8) 23513 Burscough (8) 1–0 Colwyn Bay (7) 15614 Darlington 1883 (7) 3–2 Mossley (8) 63515 Leamington (7) 6–1 Barwell (7) 29116 Cambridge City (7) 0–1 Ilkeston (7) 23217 Sutton Coldfield Town (7) 2–0 Coalville Town (8) 13818 Evesham United (8) 1–0 Redditch United (7) 30219 Carlton Town (8) 2–1 Stamford (7) 9620 Belper Town (8) 1–1 King's Lynn Town (7) 236 King's Lynn Town (7) 5–1 Belper Town (8) 37621 Histon (7) 0–0 Stratford Town (7) 187 Stratford Town (7) 4–1 Histon (7) 13322 Basford United (8) 3–1 Grantham Town (7) 16223 St Ives Town (8) 0–1 Kettering Town (7) 32524 Rushall Olympic (7) 1–0 Mickleover Sports (7) 10125 Stafford Rangers (8) 1–1 Lincoln United (8) 414 Lincoln United (8) Stafford Rangers (8) 11126 Halesowen Town (7) 1–2 Stourbridge (7) 80827 Newcastle Town (8) 2–2 Kidsgrove Athletic (8) 132 Kidsgrove Athletic (8) 3–0 Newcastle Town (8) 19028 Matlock Town (7) 2–0 Gresley (8) 24229 St Neots Town (7) 2–0 Bedworth United (7) 21530 Northwood (8) 1–3 Bedford Town (8) 9131 East Thurrock United (7) 4–0 South Park (8) 6832 Corinthian Casuals (8) 4–1 Redbridge (8) 7633 Chipstead (8) 1–2 Hastings United (8) 9434 Leatherhead (7) 1–5 Kingstonian (7) 26035 Enfield Town (7) 4–0 Leighton Town (8) 31236 Aylesbury (8) 1–1 Brentwood Town (7) 66 Brentwood Town (7) 2–0 Aylesbury (8) 89
Tie Home team (tier) Score Away team (tier) 37 Phoenix Sports (8) 1–1 Tonbridge Angels (7) 244 Tonbridge Angels (7) 2–0 Phoenix Sports (8) 33938 Herne Bay (8) 1–1 Walton Casuals (8) 117 Walton Casuals (8) 2–3 Herne Bay (8) 4639 AFC Hornchurch (8) 2–3 Metropolitan Police (7) 11040 Thurrock (8) 3–0 Chatham Town (8) 8441 VCD Athletic (7) 2–1 Staines Town (7) 10242 Chalfont St Peter (8) 1–3 Waltham Abbey (8) 5943 Cheshunt (8) 2–0 Heybridge Swifts (8) 11244 Billericay Town (7) 0–2 Chesham United (7) 27145 Thamesmead Town (8) 1–0 Ramsgate (8) 9646 East Grinstead Town (8) 0–3 Bognor Regis Town (7) 249 Tie played at Bognor Regis Town47 Tilbury (8) 2–1 Tooting & Mitcham United (8) 10148 Dunstable Town (7) 1–3 Haringey Borough (8) 7649 Hitchin Town (7) 3–2 Burgess Hill Town (7) 19050 Lewes (7) 0–0 Hampton & Richmond Borough (7) 325 Hampton & Richmond Borough (7) 2–1 Lewes (7) 17151 Grays Athletic (7) 2–1 Biggleswade Town (7) 15152 Romford (8) 0–4 Slough Town (7) 13453 Wingate & Finchley (7) 0–2 Royston Town (8) 10354 Harrow Borough (7) 0–3 Dulwich Hamlet (7) 18555 Hendon (7) 0–1 AFC Sudbury (8) 18256 Worthing (8) 1–3 Leiston (7) 31157 Merstham (7) 0–0 Harlow Town (8) 123 Harlow Town (8) 6–2 Merstham (7) 21058 Bury Town (8) 2–0 Kings Langley (8) 27259 Needham Market (7) 0–2 Canvey Island (7) 19160 Paulton Rovers (7) 2–3 Swindon Supermarine (8) 10161 Molesey (8) 1–0 Didcot Town (8) 9562 Taunton Town (8) 1–1 Dorking Wanderers (8) 194 Dorking Wanderers (8) 1–3 Taunton Town (8) 11863 Hungerford Town (7) 0–0 Banbury United (8) 128 Banbury United (8) 0–3 Hungerford Town (7) 17064 Cirencester Town (7) 2–1 North Leigh (8) 8565 Dorchester Town (7) 2–1 Chippenham Town (7) 25466 Mangotsfield United (8) 6–1 Bashley (8) 11167 Egham Town (8) 1–2 Frome Town (7) 7268 Merthyr Town (7) 1–0 Poole Town (7) 27069 Peacehaven & Telscombe (8) 0–3 Tiverton Town (8) 13070 Winchester City (8) 1–2 Weymouth (7) 34971 Bideford (7) 1–1 Farnborough (7) 182 Farnborough (7) Bideford (7) 11572 Marlow (8) 3–0 Larkhall Athletic (8) 105
Second round qualifying Second round qualifying fixtures were due to be played on 14 November 2015, with replays taking place no later than 20 November. A total of 72 teams took part in this stage of the competition, all winners from the first qualifying round. The draw was as follows:
Tie Home team (tier) Score Away team (tier) 1 Blyth Spartans (7) 1–0 Whitby Town (7) 6432 Ashton United (7) 2–1 Stratford Town (7) 1123 Evesham United (8) 1–2 Spennymoor Town (8) 2944 Buxton (7) 5–1 Radcliffe Borough (8) 1835 Skelmersdale United (7) 4–2 Lincoln United (8) 1856 Sutton Coldfield Town (7) 1–0 Darlington 1883 (7) 3607 Nantwich Town (7) 5–1 King's Lynn Town (7) 3298 Shaw Lane Aquaforce (8) 1–2 Matlock Town (7) 2329 Leamington (7) 0–0 Rushall Olympic (7) 296 Rushall Olympic (7) 2–3 Leamington (7) 18110 Warrington Town (8) 3–0 Basford United (8) 20211 Marine (7) 2–2 Kidsgrove Athletic (8) 274 Kidsgrove Athletic (8) 0–1 Marine (7) 15612 Ilkeston (7) 1–1 Stocksbridge Park Steels (8) 406 Stocksbridge Park Steels (8) 3–2 Ilkeston (7) 10813 Kettering Town (7) 0–3 Burscough (8) 43514 Stourbridge (7) 2–0 Carlton Town (8) 42815 Bideford (7) 3–2 Brentwood Town (7) 18516 St Neots Town (7) 1–2 Hungerford Town (7) 20717 Haringey Borough (8) 1–1 Hitchin Town (7) 119 Hitchin Town (7) 3–0 Haringey Borough (8) 10918 Thurrock (8) 3–2 Cheshunt (8) 7719 Tonbridge Angels (7) 1–2 Cirencester Town (7) 372
Tie Home team (tier) Score Away team (tier) 20 Enfield Town (7) 0–2 Thamesmead Town (8) 27021 Tilbury (8) 4–2 Royston Town (8) 10622 Leiston (7) 1–2 Corinthian Casuals (8) 18523 Bedford Town (8) 1–4 Weymouth (7) 22924 Swindon Supermarine (8) 2–3 Chesham United (7) 21125 Taunton Town (8) 1–4 Bognor Regis Town (7) 35126 Molesey (8) 4–3 Harlow Town (8) 9427 East Thurrock United (7) 5–0 Tiverton Town (8) 14128 Waltham Abbey (8) 0–2 Grays Athletic (7) 14629 Dulwich Hamlet (7) 2–0 VCD Athletic (7) 79530 Frome Town (7) 2–1 Slough Town (7) 15131 Hampton & Richmond Borough (7) 3–1 AFC Sudbury (8) 21232 Dorchester Town (7) 2–2 Kingstonian (7) 312 Kingstonian (7) 2–1 Dorchester Town (7) 22133 Marlow (8) 1–0 Mangotsfield United (8) 11834 Canvey Island (7) 0–2 Metropolitan Police (7) 18735 Hastings United (8) A–A Merthyr Town (7) 281 Tie abandoned at halftime due to waterlogged pitch35 Hastings United (8) 1–2 Merthyr Town (7) 15036 Bury Town (8) 1–1 Herne Bay (8) 316 Herne Bay (8) Bury Town (8) 131
Third round qualifying