It seems but five minutes ago since Crystal Palace became the latest name to be etched onto the famous cup. The 2025-26 competition gets underway on the weekend of 2nd August, with the Extra Preliminary Round. As last season I am selecting two ties, one from the Northern and one from the Southern section, with which we will start the RED and GREEN batons. The PURPLE baton will come into play in the First Qualifying Round, when Havant & Waterlooville enter the competition. The BLUE baton will make its entree in Round THREE, when Pompey will be hoping to do a little better than last season. My selected Extra Preliminary matches to follow shortly
EXTRA PRELIMINARY ROUND BURY v SOUTH LIVERPOOL Bury: With the original team, having been thrown out of the Football League in the 2018-19 season, the phoenix club Bury AFC merged with Bury FC to form a new club at Gigg Lane in 2023. They are newly promoted to The Northern Premier League, Division One West, which is at Level 8. The original Shakers won the FA Cup in 1900 and 1903. Last season they were 90 minutes away from the First Round proper, but were knocked out in the Fourth Qualifying Round by Harborough Town. South Liverpool: The South are a level below their hosts. The two sides were league opponents last season. While the Shakers won the league,they finished near the wrong end of the table, ending up 20th (out of 24) Their best cup run came in 1919-20 when they reached the 'Sixth Qualifying Round' before losing 1-2 at home to Rochdale. Last season they went out in a Preliminary Round Replay at Witton Albion. EVERSLEY & CALIFORNIA v HORNDEAN Eversley & California: The Boars are newly promoted to The Combined Counties League, Premier Division South (Level 9), having won the Division One play-offs. This season sees them making their debut in the FA Cup, as level 10 teams have limited access, with sides invited to apply if there are any vacant spots after teams up to Level 9 have entered. Horndean: The Deans are in the Isthmian League South Central Division. This is at Level 8, putting the visitors a level higher than their hosts in the pyramid. Their best run came two seasons ago, when they reached the Second Qualifying Round. Last season they went out at Shepton Mallet in the Extra Preliminary Round. Ties to be played on the weekend of 2nd August
