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. 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 at neutral venues 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.
Calendar
The format of the FA Cup for the season had two preliminary rounds, five qualifying rounds, an intermediate round, three proper rounds, and the semi-finals and final.
The other Second Division sides had to gain entry to this round through the earlier qualifying rounds. Burton United and Bradford City entered in the First Round Qualifying, with Bradford going out in the Fourth Round Qualifying. Glossop entered in the Second Round Qualifying, but a walkover was awarded to their opponents, Heywood. The others – Blackpool, Burnley, Burslem Port Vale, Chesterfield, Gainsborough Trinity, Leicester Fosse, Lincoln City and Stockport County – entered in the Third Round Qualifying, with only Gainsborough and Burslem Port Vale reaching the Intermediate Round from these.
The 10 matches were played on 12 December 1903. Four matches went to replays, with two of these going to a second replay and one of these, the game between Manchester United and Small Heath, then went to a third replay.
The eight Second Round Proper matches were scheduled for 20 February 1904. There was one replay – between Derby County and Wolverhampton Wanderers – played in the following midweek, but this was again drawn and went to a second replay a week later. Tottenham were drawn at home to play Aston Villa, the match started on 20 February but abandoned with the score at 1–0 in Villa's favour after crowd trouble. The FA ordered the game to be replayed at Villa Park and fined Tottenham £350.[1]