Walsall Wood aiming to go furthest in FA Cup since 1980s
Walsall Wood will need to get past either Loughborough University or Cleethorpes in order to reach the second qualifying round of the FA Cup for the first time since the 1980s.
The draw for the first qualifying round was made yesterday, and the Midland League Premier side were handed an away tie.
The Wood will be hoping that the students make it through their preliminary round replay next Tuesday because they beat them 3-0 in the league earlier this week.
Evo-Stik East side Cleethorpes Town, however, should provide a much sterner test.
Southern League Central side Rushall Olympic will make the short trip across Sutton Park on Saturday, September 8, to face Sutton Coldfield Town from the division below.
There is also a local game for Northern Premier side Hednesford Town, who host Southern Central team Tamworth at Keys Park.
There’s no such luck for Stafford Rangers, who have to make the 260-mile round trip to Grimsby Borough of the Northern Counties League.
Cup kings Stourbridge, who went all the way to the third round proper two years ago, travel to Shirley to face Highgate United of the Midland Premier League.
Halesowen Town of Southern League Central travel to Derbyshire to face Matlock Town of the Northern Premier League.
The first round qualifying is scheduled to take place over the weekend of Saturday, September 8, with each winning club receiving £6,000 from the FA’s prize fund.
West Midlands Premier Division side Wednesfield and Northern League One West side Chasetown have been drawn at home to Gainsborough Trinity, but the two sides still need to replay their preliminary round fixture after 2-2 draw last weekend.
FIRST ROUND QUALIFYING DRAW
Hednesford Town v Tamworth
Grimsby Borough v Stafford Rangers
Matlock Town v Halesowen
Sutton Coldfield Town v Rushall Olympic
Highgate United v Stourbridge
Wednesfield/Chasetown v Gainsborough Trinity
Loughborough University/Cleethorpes Town v Walsall Wood
