Local Sport
Clubs get home help in FA Cup’s early stage
SOUTH-EAST Essex clubs have generally enjoyed the luck of the draw for the early stages of next season's major FA competitions.
The FA Cup, which has a record 762 clubs involved this season, gets underway on August 16 and Essex Senior League clubs Southend Manor, Hullbridge Sports and Bowers and Pitsea have been handed home extra preliminary round draws.
Manor host AFC Kempston Rovers, with Hullbridge entertaining Lever-stock Green and Bowers taking on Harefield United.
Ryman One North clubs come in at the preliminary round stage on August 30 with Great Wakering Rovers hosting Bedfont Green or Barking.
East Thurrock will entertain Brimsdown Rovers or Hatfield Town, with Aveley visiting Hanwell Town or Wootton Blue Cross.
Concord start their challenge at Thames Road against the winners of Kingsbury London Tigers or Eton Manor.
Ryman Premier Billericay and Canvey Island begin at home in the first qualifying round on September 13. The New Lodge outfit will host FC Clacton, St Margaretsbury, Hoddes-don Town or Stansted with Cockfosters, Ampthill Town or Dunstable providing the opposition at Park Lane.
The mouth-watering prospect of a first qualifying round clash between Concord Rangers and Ryman Premier Billericay Town highlights the early FA Trophy draw.
The first qualifying round tie at Thames Road will take place on October 18 if Concord can win their preliminary round home match with Woodford United on October 4.
Said Concord joint boss Danny Scopes: "You never like taking things for granted and we'll have to do our homework on Woodford.
"But if we could qualify for an early-season home tie with Billericay it would be great."
Canvey face a tough entry to the Trophy with a first qualifying round visit to Cambridge City.
In the preliminary round Wakering (v Ashford Town), East Thurrock (v Thamesmead Town) and Aveley (v Ilford) are all at home. But Tilbury must travel for a difficult date at Rothwell Town.
FA Vase 1st qualifying round (September 6): Basildon United v Wootton Blue Cross, Southend Manor v Harpenden Town, Bedford v Hullbridge Sports.
If successful, Manor would host Royston in the first qualifying stages on September 20 with Basildon going to Wembley and Hullbridge at Northampton Spencer.
Bowers & Pitsea become involved at the first round proper stage on October 4 and face a tough trip to Senior League rivals Barkingside.
8:35am Wednesday 2nd July 2008
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