The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a men's football knockout cup competition run by and named after the English Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams. The competition was instigated in 1969 to cater to those non-league clubs that paid their players and were therefore not eligible to enter the FA Amateur Cup.
Altrincham v Leatherhead FA Trophy final in 1978
Ebbsfleet United fans at the 2008 final
The new Wembley Stadium
Sacha Opinel, then of Ebbsfleet United, holding the FA Trophy in 2008.
The Football Association is the governing body of association football in England and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Formed in 1863, it is the oldest football association in the world and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the amateur and professional game in its territory.
Plaque commemorating the formation of the Football Association in 1863 at the Freemasons' Tavern, London
Photo of an early handwritten draft of the 'Laws of the game' for association Football drafted for and behalf of The Football Association by Ebenezer Cobb Morley in 1863 on display at the National Football Museum, Manchester
The FA Cup trophy used from 1992 to 2013
The Prince of Wales is the current President of the FA