This season's road to Wembley (possibly my last) will have four, rather than three branches. This year I have selected a tie from the north and south section of the extra Preliminary Round. I'll add Havant & Waterlooville as they enter - I think at the first qualifying round, after relegation. And then if course the Jim Bowen branch from Round THREE when Pompey enter the fray EXTRA PRELIMINARY ROUND West Auckland town v Bishop Auckland west Auckland The famous winners of the club world cup currently ply their trade in the North League Division One (level 9). They have reached the First Round Proper on three occasions, with the most recent being in 1999. Last season they got past Northallerton Town and Shildon before going out in a First Qualifying Round Replay, to, of all teams, Bishop Auckland! Bishop Auckland The Two Blues have just won promotion to the Northern Premier League Division One East (level 8) They reached Round FOUR in 1954-55, knocking out Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town on the way. Last season they fell in the Second Qualifying Round at the hands of South Shields. Brixham v Saltash Utd Brixham The Fishermen play in the Wessex League Premier division (level 9) Only formed in 2012, with the merger of Brixham Utd and Brixham Villa, they have only entered the cup since the 2021-22 season. They reached the Preliminary Round in 2022-23. Last year they went in the Extra Preliminary Round (replay) to Okeampton Argyle Saltash Utd The Ashes play in the Western League Premier Division (level 9) Their best cup run came in 1987-88, when they reached the Fourth Qualifying Round Last year they fell in the Extra Preliminary Round, losing at Barnstaple
Extra Preliminary Round Results: West Auckland 0-2 Bishop Auckland Brixham 2-0 Saltash Utd Preliminary Round ties: Ashington v BISHOP AUCKLAND The Colliers play in The Northern Premier League Division One East (level 8) which is the same division as the visitors. Their best FA Cup run came nearly a century ago (1926-27) when they reached Round THREE. Last season they went out in the SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND losing to South Shields THIS MATCH IS LIVE ON BBC iPLAYER, THE RED BUTTON and on the BBC SPORTS WEBSITE Exmouth v BRIXHAM The Town are currently in the Southern League Division One South (level 8) and are therefore a level higher than the visitors. Their best effort was the Fourth Qualifying Round, which they reached in consecutive seasons; 1988-89 & 1989-90. Last season they fell in the EXTRA PRELIMINARY ROUND at the hands of Falmouth Town
Preliminary Round scores.... Ashington 1-1 BISHOP AUCKLAND Replay Tues 20/8 Exmouth a-a BRIXHAM abandoned after 70 minutes due to a serious injury to an Exmouth player, with the home side 3-0 up. The game has been rescheduled for Wednesday 21/8
FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND Crook v Ashington or Bishop Auckland Mousehole or Welland Rovers v Exmouth Town or Brixham Havant & Waterlooville v Wallingford & Crowmarsh Updates after replays...
Replay results Willand 1-0 Mousehole Exmouth Town 0-2 BRIXHAM BISHOP AUKLAND 1-2 Ashington One has to feel sorry for Exmouth Town, who were 3-0 up when the original match was abandoned after 70 minutes due to a serious injury to one of their players. So our three matches in the FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND are: Willand Rovers v BRIXHAM Crook Town v ASHINGTON HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE v Wallingford & Crowmarsh Info to follow
First Qualifying Round Crook town v ASHINGTON The Black & Ambers are in The Northern League Division One. At Level 9 they are a level below the visitors. Their best cup run came in 1931-32, when they reached Round THREE. Last season they lost in the Extra Preliminary Round at North Feriby. They have so far eliminated Maske Utd and Penrith. Willand Rovers v BRIXHAM The Devon All-Whites are in the Southern League Division One South. This is Level 8, one higher than the visitors. Their best effort came in 2014-15, with an appearance in the Fourth Qualifying Round. They fell at the first hurdle last year, losing at Helston Athletic in the Extra Preliminary Round They've beaten Austell and Mousehole to reach this stage HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE v Wallingford & Crowmarsh After relegation The Hawks enter the competition a round earlier than they are accustomed to. Wally are in the Combined Countries League Premier Division North which is at Level 9. This puts them two levels below the hosts. They have reached the Second Qualifying Round on three occasions; 2000-01, 02-03 and 03-04. Last season they lost at home to Marlow in the Preliminary Round. They have so far knocked out Bridlington and Slimbridge. Ties to be played on the weekend of Saturday 31st August
First Qualifying Round results: Crook Town 2-1 ASHINGTON Willand Rovers 1-0 BRIXHAM HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE 3-0 Wallingford & Crowmarsh So it will be CROOK TOWN WILLAND ROVERS HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE in the Second Qualifying Round
The draw has been made for the Second Qualifying Round and our games are: CROOK TOWN v Witton Albion Oxford City v WILLAND ROVERS Worthing v HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE Details to follow
CROOK TOWN v Witton Albion. The Albion play in The Northern Premier League Division One North. This is level 8 and so puts them a division higher than their hosts. They reached Round TWO on three occasions; most recently in 1991-92 Last season they lost to Lancaster City in the First Qualifying Round. They have so far knocked out South Liverpool and City of Liverpool in this year's competition. Oxford City v WILLAND ROVERS The Hoops are in National League North and are thus two levels higher than the visitors. They have reached Round TWO three times, with their most recent time being 2020-21 Last season they fell at the first hurdle, The Fourth Qualifying Round (being in the National League then) when the lost in a replay to Scarborough They are entering the competition at this stage Worthing v HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE The Mackerel Men ply their trade in the National League South, so are a division higher than The Hawks. Their best cup run came in 1982-83 when they reached Round TWO. Last season they knocked The Hawks out in the Fourth Qualifying Round before losing at Alfreton Town in Round ONE. They are entering this year's competition at this stage.
2nd Qualifying Round results CROOK TOWN 1-2 Witton Albion. Oxford City 6-0 WILLAND ROVERS Worthing 3-2 HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE So all three batons have changed hands, with WITTON ALBION OXFORD CITY and WORTHING progressing to the THIRD Qualifying Round.
Third Qualifying Round Macclesfield FC v WITTON ALBION The Silkmen play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. This is at Level 7 and a level higher than the visitors The phoenix club is playing in just its fourth season and had its best cup run last term, reaching the Fourth Qualifying Round, losing out on a First Round proper berth after going down 3-1 to Alfreton. They have so far seen off Tadcaster and South Shields in this year's competition. OXFORD CITY v Gosport Borough The Boro' are in the Southern League Premier Division South, which is a level below the hosts. They made it to Round ONE in 2014-15, losing 6-3 to Colchester. Last season they went out to Welling Utd I. a Third Qualifying Round replay So far this season they have knocked out Andover New Street and Gloucester City. WORTHING v Dartford The Darts play in the Isthmian League Premier Division which, at level 7, is one lower than the hosts. They reached Round THREE in two consecutive seasons, albeit a long time ago, in 1935-36 & 36-37 They have removed Marlow and Leatherhead so far this season. Ties to be played on the weekend of Saturday 28th September.
Third Qualifying Round results: Macclesfield 6-1 WITTON ALBION OXFORD CITY 2-3 Gosport Borough WORTHING 3-1 Dartford So it's MACCLESFIELD GOSPORT BOROUGH and WORTHING who will be awaiting the draw for the Fourth Qualifying Round, where they will be joined by the teams in the National League.
As Gosport's squad contains quite a few ex-Pompey youngsters, I hope they receive a decent draw, and can progress further in the cup.
Fourth Qualifying Round Draw Tamworth v MACCLESFIELD TOWN Wealdstone v GOSPORT BOROUGH Plymouth Parkway v WORTHING Stats and details to follow later
FOURTH QUALIFYING ROUND Tamworth v MACCLESFIELD TOWN The Lambs are in the National League, which at level 5 is two divisions higher than the visitors They have reached Round THREE on three occasions; 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2011-12 Last season they lost 1-0 away to Curzon Ashton in the Fourth Qualifying Round. They are entering this season's competition at this stage Wealdstone v GOSPORT BOROUGH The Stones (or The Royals), managed by ex-Pompey favourite Matt Taylor, are in The National League, two levels higher than Borough. Their best cup run saw them reach Round THREE, but that was way back in 1977-78 Last year they lost 3-2 at Bromley in the Fourth Qualifying Round. They are entering the competition at this stage Plymouth Parkway v WORTHING The Parkway are in The Southern League Premier Division South and are therefore a level lower than their visitors. This is the first time they have advanced to the Fourth Qualifying Round Last season they were beaten by Frome Town in the Second Qualifying Round So far this term they have knocked out Baffins Milton Rovers, Westbury Utd and Sittingbourne Ties to be played on the weekend of Saturday 12th October
Fourth Qualifying Round results Tamworth 4-2 MACCLESFIELD Wealdstone 4-1 GOSPORT BOROUGH Plymouth Parkway 0-4 WORTHING
The qualifiers have finished and we have now made it to: Round ONE TAMWORTH v Huddersfield Town The Terriers are in League One, two levels higher than their hosts They are previous FA Cup winners, albeit over a century ago, winning the trophy in 1922 Last season they were slain 5-0 by Manchester City in Round THREE As a League side they are entering the competition at this stage This tie is live on BBC2 on Friday 1st November. Kickoff at 19:45 Grimsby Town v WEALDSTONE The Mariners sit a division higher than the visitors, in League Two They have twice reached the semi-finals, in 1936 and 1939 Last season they were knocked out by Oxford Utd in Round TWO They are entering the competition at this stage. Tie to be played on Saturday 2nd November. Kickoff at 15:00 WORTHING v Morecambe This tie makes a trio of David v Goliath ties as The Shrimps visit Woodside Road. Being in League Two, they are two levels higher than their Non-League hosts They have never progressed further than Round THREE, which they have reached four times. Notably three of those appearances have been in the last four seasons! Last season they reached Round THREE, where they were beaten 2-0 away to Swansea City. Of course, like Huddersfield and Grimsby, they are entering the competition at this stage Tie to be played on saturday 2nd November. Kickoff at 15:00
TAMWORTH 1-0 Huddersfield Town Congratulations to TAMWORTH on their giant-killing. They retain the Red Baton and carry it into Round TWO
