The football season is now upon us and, with pre-season friendlies already in full swing, the Football Association has today (7 July 2023) released the draws for the opening rounds of its national cup competitions, the Emirates FA Cup, Isuzu FA Trophy, Isuzu FA Vase, and FA Youth Cup.
Two Notts derbies take place in the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup as Newark & Sherwood United host Hucknall Town, and Eastwood Community welcome Kimberley Miners Welfare, with all Notts clubs actually being kept apart in the Preliminary Round, both of which take place in the first half of August; of the remaining sides included in the opening round, Sherwood Colliery are at home to a free-scoring, Aylestone Park, Carlton Town and AFC Mansfield are on the road.
There’s two Notts affairs in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Vase as Clipstone entertain Radford, and Sandiacre Town, promoted from the Nottinghamshire Senior League last season, face a tough challenge with the arrival of Hucknall Town; Sherwood have again been drawn at home, as have Southwell City and Newark Town in their respective, Vase openers.
In the Second Qualifying, there’s the potential of three, further local affairs as AFC Mansfield could welcome Kimberley MW, Ollerton Town can entertain Rainworth MW, and Gedling Miners Welfare could host Selston, providing victory is ascertained.
As for the FA Youth Cup, Basford United are involved in the Extra Preliminary Round, with Dunkirk and Eastwood Community facing each other in the Preliminary Round itself, in early September.
In regards clubs from Nottinghamshire, the draws for each competition is as follows (Notts clubs in bold) –
FA CUP Extra Preliminary Round (5 August 2023)
Quorn vs. CARLTON TOWN, NEWARK & SHERWOOD UNITED vs. HUCKNALL TOWN, Skegness Town vs. AFC MANSFIELD, EASTWOOD COMMUNITY vs. KIMBERLEY MINERS WELFARE, SHERWOOD COLLIERY vs. Aylestone Park
FA CUP Preliminary Round (19 August 2023)
SHERWOOD COLLIERY/Aylestone Park vs. Grantham Town/Loughborough Students, Boston Town/Anstey Nomads vs. EASTWOOD COMMUNITY/KIMBERLEY MINERS WELFARE, Quorn/CARLTON TOWN vs. Maltby Main/Pinchbeck United, NEWARK & SHERWOOD UNITED/HUCKNALL TOWN vs. Harborough Town, Sheffield vs. Skegness Town/AFC MANSFIELD
FA VASE First Qualifying Round (28 August 2023)
Swallownest vs. RETFORD, CLIPSTONE vs. RADFORD, Sleaford Town vs. RAINWORTH MINERS WELFARE, SHERWOOD COLLIERY vs. Melton Town, SOUTHWELL CITY vs. Kirby Muxloe, SELSTON vs. Harrowby United, Leicester St. Andrews vs. AFC MANSFIELD, NEWARK TOWN vs Holbeach Uniited, SANDIACRE TOWN vs. HUCKNALL TOWN
FA VASE Second Qualifying Round (23 September 2023)
Swallownest/RETFORD vs. Droylsden/Wakefield, Leicester St. Andrews/ AFC MANSFIELD vs. KIMBERLEY MINERS WELFARE, SOUTHWELL CITY/Kirby Muxloe vs. EASTWOOD COMMUNTY, Holwell Sports/Shirebrook Town vs. CLIPSTONE/RADFORD, Deeping Rangers/Loughborough Students vs. DUNKIRK, GNG Oadby Town vs. SHERWOOD COLLIERY/Melton Town, OLLERTON TOWN vs. Sleaford Town/RAINWORTH MINERS WELFARE, Blackstone/Boston Town vs. SANDIACRE TOWN/HUCKNALL TOWN, Lincoln United vs. NEWARK TOWN/Holbeach United, GEDLING MINERS WELFARE vs. SELSTON/Harrowby United, Birstall United/Ingles vs. CLIFTON ALL WHITES
FA YOUTH CUP Extra Preliminary Round (14 August 2023)
BASFORD UNITED vs. Anstey Nomads
FA YOUTH CUP Preliminary Round (4 September 2023)
DUNKIRK vs. EASTWOOD COMMUNITY, BASFORD UNITED/Anstey Nomads vs. Gresley Rovers
There’s also several exemptions in each of the cup competitions, with Football League and Premier League clubs, as always, coming in at a later date.
The exemptions in regards Notts clubs, and rounds coming in, are as follows –
FA CUP – Basford United and Worksop Town (First Qualifying Round), Mansfield Town and Notts County (First Round Proper), Nottingham Forest (Third Round Proper)
FA TROPHY – Basford United and Worksop Town (Third Qualifying Round)
FA VASE – Newark & Sherwood United (First Round Proper)
FA YOUTH CUP – Mansfield Town and Notts County (First Round Proper), Nottingham Forest (Third Round Proper)
As always, check with all clubs official socials, and websites, for further information regarding draws, changes, kick-off times and the like…..
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @EmiratesFACup the 2023/24 FA Cup kicks off over the first weekend in August.
