The First Round Draw of the FA Cup takes place on Monday night as part of the live proceedings around Bishops Stortford vs St Albans City live on BT Sport and with it.
80 teams will be in the draw with a chance hoping to get a good draw whether it be at home, away or live on tv regardless.
With the likes of Skelmersdale United and Cray Valley Paper Mills being able to be drawn against such as Sunderland, Ipswich, Bolton, Salford and Portsmouth from the EFL, some will be hoping for a big tie to reward them for their endeavours in what’s been a troubling and tough year for many in non-league football.
Needless to say, there are some mouth watering possibilities.
The North West Coast Derbies:
The North West coastline of Blackpool to Carlisle has seen a mixture of changes in recent years. Only Carlisle United and Morecambe have stood around in the same league without any major problems in the last few years whilst Fleetwood, Blackpool, Barrow and Fylde have all experienced a mixture of relegations and promotions.
The scene of the far north west coastline is one that is growing well with many from the area often affiliating themselves as supporters of teams nearby like Liverpool or Manchester United but that is slowly changing.
Blackpool’s fortunes have changed in terms of ownership whilst we have also seen the rise of Barrow once more coming into the EFL whilst Fleetwood also continue their push towards the Championship under Joey Barton.
Whilst the main derby in the Blackpool to Carlisle area is seen as Blackpool vs Preston, with Preston living life as a Championship club and not featuring until Round Three, there is the added ability to see more derbies grow in fierceness and brutality like the all-League One affair of Blackpool vs Fleetwood or all-League Two affair of Barrow vs Morecambe or Carlisle United.
The latter also doubles as a Cumbrian derby.
Chuck Marine and AFC Fylde into the mix and you’ve got tasty opportunities for good games even furthermore.
Lancashire:
FC United of Manchester were started off about 15 years ago in response to the Glazer family buying Manchester United. The club has gone as high as the National League North in its short history before recently getting relegated a matter of two years ago of which during their days as a club in that league, they reached the FA Cup First Round.
There is a potential opportunity for them to lock horns with local neighbours Oldham Athletic, Salford City and Bolton Wanderers who are all of League Two. A chance for the United fans to get one up on those they deem as legends some could say? This is even enhanced given the strong ex Manchester United connection at Salford.
The North West of England has certainly got some good potential for some cracking ties to take place. Accrington Stanley, Chorely and Rochdale are also in there.
The littlest of all the fish is Skelmersdale United. Wigan Athletic are closer than most of the sides in their league! They wouldn’t scoff at Bolton or Tranmere Rovers either.
But if anyone is eyeing up Tranmere, it is surely Marine FC in nearby Crosby.
Oxfordshire:
Three Oxfordshire teams (and neighbours Brackley) have reached the first round. Banbury have done so for the first time since 1973, while for Oxford City, it is the 4th year in a row.
Would they not be eyeing a massive tie with the local gentry, Oxford United?
The North East:
Sunderland are the biggest fish in this pond and would be a cracking tie for anybody. Darlington and their fierce rivals Hartlepool are nearby but South Shields, conquerors of Halifax, would love any of them.
The West Country:
West of Reading and before Wales, the draw has Yeovil, Torquay United, Bristol Rovers, Swindon, Plymouth, Forest Green, Exeter and Cheltenham.
For an area not always associated with the round ball code, especially given Exeter and Bristol’s recent rugby heroics, this is a strong contingent.
Swindon are roughly equidistant from Cheltenham, Oxford and Bristol all of which would make for great derbies.
Essex has two EFL sides in the form of Colchester United and Southend United and it has four non-league sides in the form of Dagenham & Redbridge, Concord Rangers, Canvey Island and Maldon & Tiptree all in the draw for the First Round.
Obviously, there is the potential of Colchester vs Southend which is seen as the main “Essex derby” and one that will be renewed later on this season in the league following Southend’s relegation last season.
However Colchester vs Maldon would be an interesting sight to see unfold if drawn given the clubs have united in recent years with a development programme which has seen coaches and players go from U’s to the Jammers to help aid their progression in the game.
Closer to the River Thames, you’ve got the Canvey Island derby between Canvey Island, our followed #Moneyfieldstowembley team, and Concord Rangers which has seen massive crowds turn up in anticipation for such a match before. The teams haven’t played each other though competitively since Concord got promoted from the Isthmian League back in 2013 despite having played regular friendlies since then.
Derbies between Canvey Island and Concord Rangers are a regular thing at youth level like this Under 18s clash from 2018 which Concord won 2-0. Photo: Andy Wilkins
And lastly, you’ve got the potential bonus of Southend United vs Canvey Island. The two sides have played each other before in the FA Cup and what makes this a potential reality is that Gulls boss Mark Bentley has said he would love to face his former-side that he spent time at whilst as a player.
The ex-Premier League Group:
One thing that this draw does for those in non-league is offer a wide range of clubs who have been at the top of the football pyramid in the past and this year, there are eleven ex-Premier League side in the draw: Blackpool, Bolton, Bradford City, Charlton, Ipswich, Hull, Oldham, Portsmouth, Wigan, Swindon and Sunderland. (You can argue Wimbledon)
Each of them would be a plum tie for any of the non league sides, local or not.
London:
Cray Valley, AFC Wimbledon, Leyton Orient, Charlton, Hampton & Richmond, Hayes & Yeading United, Boreham Wood, Barnet and Dagenhan & Redbridge are all in and around the capital.
Dagenham v Orient would provide a local flavour as would a tie between Hampton & Richmond and Hayes & Yeading United, which would additionally guarantee one of then progress. Many of the Cray Valley committee are Charlton fans so that draw would really excite them down SE9.
Boreham Wood v Barnet is the other localised possibility.
Other possibilities:
Kings Lynn v Peterborough or even Cambridge United would be a fine reward. Stevenage would love the winners of St Albans v Bishop’s Stortford, the one remaining tie.
Eastleigh v Portsmouth would make for a cracking Hampshire derby, as would either side playing Havant & Waterlooville.
Tonbridge Angels and Eastbourne would present both sides with a short journey and a chance of progressing.
Photographer who's gone everywhere from covering non-league football to covering England internationals. Occasionally write but mostly at football matches with a camera and mono-pod.
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