National Cup Draws

A start to the season that has already, less than three weeks into August, bore witness to several league games, as well as the opening rounds of both the Emirates FA Cup, and Isuzu FA Vase, is now readying itself for the next round of the national cup competitions.

The Road to Wembley is already in full swing for non-league clubs, and, although reaching the Third Round Proper in the FA Cup is what most dream of, and the paydays that come with it, the FA Vase, which began on Saturday gone, provides another route to the Capital.

Progression for Nottinghamshire clubs, in both, means that they now know who they’ll be facing in the next round, and, with several clubs having received byes, there’s some interesting, exciting ties ahead.

The FA Cup is back up next, with the Preliminary Round of the world famous knockout competition taking place this coming weekend, of the 21/22 August, and which will see half-a-dozen Notts clubs taking part.

AFC Mansfield, Eastwood, Retford, and Sherwood Colliery, all progressed on the opening day of the season, with the Bulls seeing off visiting Retford United, the Red Badgers winning at Loughborough Students, the Choughs enjoying their day at the seaside against Skegness Town, and the Wood edging a five-goal thriller against visiting Moulton.

Joining that quartet in the Preliminary Round will be Northern Premier League pair, Basford United, and Carlton Town, they having been drawn away from home when their cup run begins at the weekend; fixtures for the Preliminary Round – Notts clubs only (in CAPITALS), as follows –

RETFORD vs. Northampton on Chenecks, Corby Town vs. BASFORD UNITED, Desborough Town vs. CARLTON TOWN, Northampton Sileby Rangers vs. AFC MANSFIELD, EASTWOOD vs. Barton Town, Boston Town vs, SHERWOOD COLLIERY

The next, Second Qualifying Round of the FA Vase, will take place on 12 September, eight local clubs having progressed following victories in the opening round this past weekend, and three more joining them following byes.

AFC Mansfield, Eastwood, Hucknall Town, Retford, Shirebrook Town, Southwell City, Stapleford Town, and West Bridgford Colts, all progressed, Shirebrook registering a 4-0 win on the road at Holwell Sports, and West Bridgford defeating visitors Gedling Miners Welfare 4-1; Stapleford, Hucknall, and Mansfield, all netted three goals in their respective wins also.

Joining those eight in the next round will be Clifton All Whites, Clipstone, and Newark Town, as they all look to make the draw for the First Round Proper, in October; fixtures for the next round of the FA Vase – Notts clubs only (in CAPITALS), AS FOLLOWS –

Uppermill vs. RETFORD, HUCKNALL TOWN vs. Saffron Dynamo, AFC MANSFIELD vs, SHIREBROOK TOWN, Pinxton vs. WEST BRIDGFORD COLTS, Heanor Town vs. CLIFTON ALL WHITES, STAPLEFORD TOWN vs Harrowby United, SOUTHWELL CITY vs. South Normanton Athletic, CLIPSTONE vs. EASTWOOD, NEWARK TOWN vs. Lutterworth Town

Two Notts clubs also know their opponents for the opening round of this season’s Isuzu FA Trophy competition, with both the Ambers of Basford, and Millers of Carlton, drawn at home, games to be played on 29 August.

The draw (Notts clubs in CAPITALS) for the FA Trophy First Qualifying Round is as follows –

BASFORD UNITED vs. Bedworth United, CARLTON TOWN vs. Shepshed Dynamo

As for the women’s game, the draw has also been made for the opening, Preliminary Round, of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup competition, from which half-a-dozen Notts clubs are in action, and is set to take place this coming Sunday, 23 August.

The draw (Notts clubs in CAPITALS) is as follows –

NEWARK TOWN vs. Long Eaton United, Allexton & New Parks vs. SHERWOOD, ARNOLD EAGLES vs. River City, UNIVERISTY OF NOTTINGHAM vs, Wellingborough Town, Anstey Nomads vs. BASFORD UNITED, RADCLIFF OLYMPIC vs. Leicester City

The FA Women’s National League Cup has seen Notts County drawn away to Peterborough United (to be played, Thurs, 27 August), whilst in the Women’s Super League Players Cup, Nottingham Forest play the following games – Aston Villa (h, Weds, 23 September), Sheffield United (a, Sun, 18 October), Burnley (h, Sun, 1 November), Liverpool (h, Weds, 18 November), Newcastle United (a, Sun, 22 November), and Birmingham City (a, Weds, 16 December).