The FA Challenge Cup is the oldest and most famous football competition in the world. The number of entries in the competition has risen steadily from the original 15 clubs in 1871. In the inter-war years over 600 clubs took part. Now there is a standard of ability and ground facilities which must be reached before a club's entry is accepted by The FA Challenge Cup Committee. The Competition begins with an Extra-Preliminary Round in August. There is then a Preliminary Round, four Qualifying Rounds, followed by six Rounds in the Competition Proper, a Semi-Final and a Final. Currently, the Football Conference Clubs are exempted to the Fourth Qualifying Round, the Football League Second and Third Division Clubs are exempted to the First Round Proper and the FA Premier League Clubs and Football League First Division Clubs are exempted to the Third Round Proper stage. All matches, except the Semi-Final and Final ties are replayed if drawn after 90 minutes. The Semi-Finals and Final tie are played to a finish on the day. Manchester United have won the Cup the most times (10) and two clubs have won it three years in a row - Wanderers (1876-78) and Blackburn Rovers (1884-86). The Cup Final, staged at Wembley from 1923 to 2000 had a legendary status within the game that looks set to continue while the Final is played at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. Michael Owen's inspired performance saw Liverpool to victory over Arsenal in 2001 on a magical day in Wales. Then in 2002 Arsenal exorcised their demons by defeating Chelsea 2-0 with goals from Ray Parlour and, for the second year running, Freddie Ljungberg. The Gunners retained The Cup in August 2003 courtesy of Robert Pires' 38th minute strike against Southampton. This was another historic occasion for an FA Cup Final as it was the first to ever be played under-cover with the roof of the Millennium Stadium pulled across to protect the match from the very un-Cup Final like downpours in south Wales. No matter who the finalists are, the game is undoubtedly the biggest annual football match in the world. | 
