It’s the time of year when competitive football seems so far away, but yet the announcement of the early stages of the four main FA controlled knock out competitions took place on Friday.
The FA Cup with Budweiser; the FA Carlsberg Trophy; the FA Carlsberg Vase and the FA Youth Cup draws were made on Friday and it means the cold winter months are a bit closer and once again offers up some tantalising and fascinating potential Kent clashes early in the new season.
The FA Cup with Budweiser – the draw for the first three rounds have been made with Extra Preliminary Round ties scheduled for the weekend of August 16th.
This round features all of the Southern Counties East League teams (Rochester United the only one who haven’t entered) and has thrown up three Kent derbies, as Deal Town host Phoenix Sports; Tunbridge Wells travel to Holmesdale and it’s Canterbury City against League new boys Lingfield.
The Preliminary Round – played two weeks later (August 30th) is the point where the Ryman One North and South sides join the competition, and there are some intriguing ties including Neil Cugley’s Folkestone Invicta away to Erith and Belvedere; Chatham Town hosting Whyteleafe, and Hythe Town could have a trip to Lordswood if they overcome Colliers Wood in the Extra Preliminary Round.
Understandably the draw for the First Qualifying Round is extremely confused, but there are already some ties that stand out, such as Tonbridge Angels hosting the winner of Herne Bay’s trip to Walton and Hersham; Faversham Town (if they can get past either Westfield or Horley Town) will have to travel to Leatherhead, whilst if Thamesmead Town can see off South Park’s challenge in the Preliminary Road, they will welcome the Met Police.
In the FA Carlsberg Trophy, it’s Folkestone Invicta again with the pick of the early ties as they travel to face Ramsgate in the Preliminary Round in mid October, whilst Whitstable Town will travel to face Ryman North under achievers AFC Sudbury, and Thamesmead Town also travel to face the “Mighty Ducks” of Aylesbury United.
In the First Qualifying Round, there’s the fascinating tie as VCD Athletic host Tonbridge Angels; Margate face Slough for a second consecutive season in FA competitions, and there’s a potential derby between Cray Wanderers and Faversham Town if the Kent sides beat Hastings United and Beaconsfield SYCOB respectively.
In the FA Carlsberg Vase, the First Qualifying Round sees 11 SCEFL sides enter with the pick being Fisher v Woodstock Sports and Croydon v Phoenix Sports.
Five more sides enter at the next round with Lordswood travelling to either Southwick or Dorking, and Beckenham Town hosting Selsey or Corinthian.
For full details on all the draws please visit the FA website at http://www.thefa.com/news/