The draws for the opening rounds of the FA Cup and FA Trophy have now been released, and our first match of the 23-24 season will pit us against a familiar foe.
We last travelled to the Welfare Ground in Emley for an FA Vase tie in August of last year, less than 48 hours after progressing to the FA Cup first qualifying round for the first ever time by defeating Albion Sports in a penalty shoot out. On that occasion we went down 4-3 on penalties after the game had finished 2-2 at the end of the ninety minutes.
Emley share their ground with a local cricket club which sometimes precludes them from playing Saturday afternoon fixtures, so we will confirm when this game will take place over the weekend of 5th-6th August in due course. A win in that fixture would set up a trip to either AFC Liverpool or Lower Breck on 19th August.
Our first ever appearance in the FA Trophy will take place on Saturday 9th September, when we will host a Winterton Rangers side who have not appeared in the competition for nearly 50 years, and who also gained promotion to the Northern Premier League via the inter step play offs back in May. They will therefore compete this season in Division One East.
Victory in that tie would earn us another home fixture in the second qualifying round, against either Trafford or Stalybridge Celtic on Saturday 23rd September.
