The tournament featured teams from the top three levels of the football pyramid. These three levels and 8 leagues, namely the TT Pro League, National Super League, Central FA's Premier Division, Eastern FA's Premier Division, Eastern Counties' Football Union, Norther FA's Premier Division, Southern FA's Premier Division, and Tobago FA's Premier Division, each have their own separate qualification process to trim their ranks down to their final team delegations. The top eight teams following the first round of matches in the 2010–11 season qualified as the Pro League's representatives for the competition. In addition, the top six finishers from the Super League also qualified. In addition, all six regional football associations were awarded three qualification positions into this year's edition. The following clubs qualified for the 81st edition of the FA Trophy:
All matches were played over two 45 minute halves, and in the process if the match were drawn at the end of regulation time, then two additional 15-minute halves were used, and if necessary, penalty kicks if still drawn after extra time.
First round
The draw for the most prestigious knockout tournament held by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association was made on 3 November 2010 at its head office in Port of Spain, Trinidad with ties played in the week beginning 17 November 2010. The only Pro League match-up featured Ma Pau facing W Connection. The remaining six professional teams advanced with little difficulty. Castara Goal City from the Tobago FA and Valencia United from the Eastern Counties Football Union defeated National Super League sides T&TEC and St. Francois Nationals respectively.
The draw for the second round took place on 17 November 2010 and involved the 16 winning teams from the first round. These were from the following levels:
Matches in the second round were played in the week commencing 29 November 2010. La Brea All-Stars continued their run with a 3-2 win over Queen's Park. In the only match-up between teams from the Pro League, San Juan Jabloteh defeated defending champions Joe Public 2-0 after extra time to secure their place in the quarterfinals. Caledonia AIA received a scare from Defence Force from the National Super League, but prevailed using a 111th-minute goal from Ishmael Daniel in extra time.
Quarterfinals
The draw for the quarterfinals took place on 4 December 2010 and involved the 8 winning teams from the second round. The lowest ranked team left in the competition was La Brea All-Stars of the Southern FA Premier Division, the third tier of Trinidad and Tobago football. The eight remaining teams were from the following levels:
6 from Level 1
1 from Level 2
1 from Level 3
Matches in the quarterfinals were played on 10 December 2010. The two remaining minnows were ousted at the quarterfinals stage, leaving the semifinals to be an all-professional affair. La Brea All-Stars of the SFA Premier Division were defeated by San Juan Jabloteh 5-0 in the late match at Ato Boldon Stadium. The other potential giant-killer Joe Public from the National Super League were also eliminated from the competition following a loss to professional side Caledonia AIA 5-4 on penalties after the match ended 2-2 in regulation. In the remaining all-Pro League matches, North East Stars defeated Ma Pau 1-0 and Defence Force beat St. Ann's Rangers by a 3–1 scoreline. ---- ---- ---- ----
Semifinals
The draw for the semifinals took place on 11 December 2010. The four remaining teams were all consisted of Pro League teams including Caledonia AIA, Defence Force, North East Stars, and San Juan Jabloteh. Both semifinal matches took place at Marvin Lee Stadium on 12 January 2011. North East Stars defeated Defence Force 2–0 to reach the final of the competition. Both goals came from GuyaneseCharles Pollard, who scored in the 24th and in first half stoppage time. In the other semifinal, San Juan Jabloteh needed eight penalty kicks to defeat Caledonia AIA by a score of 7-6 following a 2-2 scoreline after regulation time. ---- ----
Final
The final was played at Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya, Trinidad on 29 January 2011. The match was contested by North East Stars, who defeated Defence Force 2–0 in their semifinal, and San Juan Jabloteh who needed penalties to defeat Caledonia AIA after the match ended 2-2 after the end of regulation. San Juan Jabloteh secured the Trophy following an early goal from Kennedy Hinkson in the 2nd minute and superb goalkeeping from Cleon John to defeat the North East Stars 1-0. The win marked the San Juan Boys' third FA Trophy win, whereas the Sangre Grande Boys settled for their second runner-up in the competition. The leading goal scorer of the tournament was Akeil Pierre of Defence Force having scored a hat-trick in his side's first round match against Diamond United and a further brace against Damarie Hill Reunited in the second round.
