FA draws: Wallingford return to the FA Cup

The draws for the early rounds of the four men’s FA competitions have been made, with a Wallingford team entering the FA Cup for the first time since 2007 and a guaranteed Oxfordshire derby in the FA Trophy.

In the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round draw, Wallingford & Crowmarsh enter the competition for the first time in their current guise, after missing out last year despite promotion to step 5.

They will travel to Combined Counties League Premier Division North rivals Chalfont St Peter in the first weekend of August, the first FA Cup game involving the town since AFC Wallingford lost to Lymington Town at the same stage 16 years ago.

Wantage Town have a trip to Somerset to face Clevedon Town, whilst Ardley United, Easington Sports, Kidlington and Thame United all have home draws. Despite playing at step 5 this season, Milton United are absent.

Only Wantage have a potential away day in the Preliminary Round two weeks later, as they or Clevedon will face Fairford Town or Aylesbury United. North Leigh enter at this stage and will play the winners of Bishop’s Cleeve and Thornbury Town.

Following promotion, Didcot Town will enter in the First Qualifying Round. Banbury United follow in the round after, with Oxford City only coming in at the Fourth Qualifying Round as they are now in the National League. Oxford United enter in the First Round.

There will be an Oxfordshire derby in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy with Kidlington hosting North Leigh. The winners will host Exmouth Town or Wimborne Town. Thame United are at home to debutants Badshot Lea. Mersham or Sutton Common Rovers await the winners of that in the next round. Didcot, Banbury and Oxford City again have byes to later rounds.

In the FA Vase, only Easington Sports have a home draw, playing Edgware & Kingsbury. Wallingford & Crowmarsh go to Brook House, Wantage Town to Shirehampton and Clanfield 85 are drawn away to Reading City. The latter will though likely see a venue or date change due to a clash with the Reading Festival.

Ardley United are the only additional Oxfordshire side to enter in the Second Qualifying Round. They will play Langley or Chalfont St Peter. Milton United are also absent from the Vase entry list, as are Abingdon United.

Finally, in the FA Youth Cup, North Leigh, Kidlington and Wantage Town enter the Extra Preliminary Round, whilst the Preliminary Round draw sees two derbies – Ardley United host Didcot Town and Thame United welcome Wallingford & Crowmarsh. Banbury and the two Oxford clubs enter later in the competition.

See the full draws for our county’s sides below.

The Emirates FA Cup

Extra Preliminary Round (to be played weekend of 5 August 2023)

Ardley United vs Ascot United
Chalfont St Peter vs Wallingford & Crowmarsh
Clevedon Town vs Wantage Town
Easington Sports vs Burnham
Kidlington vs Flackwell Heath
Thame United vs Bristol Manor Farm

Preliminary Round (to be played weekend of 19 August 2023)

Ardley United or Ascot United vs Mangotsfield United or Royal Wootton Bassett Town
Chalfont St Peter or Wallingford & Crowmarsh vs Marlow
Easington Sports or Burnham vs Slimbridge or Reading City
Fairford Town or Aylesbury United vs Clevedon Town or Wantage Town
Kidlington or Flackwell Heath vs Cirencester Town
North Leigh vs Bishop’s Cleeve or Thornbury Town
Thame United or Bristol Manor Farm vs Lydney Town or Roman Glass St George

The Isuzu FA Trophy

First Qualifying Round (to be played weekend of 9 September 2023)

Kidlington vs North Leigh
Thame United vs Badshot Lea

Second Qualifying Round (to be played weekend of 23 September 2023)

Kidlington or North Leigh vs Exmouth Town or Wimborne Town
Thame United or Badshot Lea vs Merstham or Sutton Common Rovers

The Isuzu FA Vase

First Qualifying Round (to be played weekend of 26 August 2023)

Brook House vs Wallingford & Crowmarsh
Easington Sports vs Edgware & Kingsbury
Reading City vs Clanfield 85
Shirehampton vs Wantage Town

Second Qualifying Round (to be played weekend of 23 September 2023)

Ardley United vs Langley or Chalfont St Peter
Cinderford Town vs Reading City or Clanfield 85
Easington Sports or Edgware & Kingsbury vs British Airways
Hilltop vs Brook House or Wallingford & Crowmarsh
Shirehampton or Wantage Town vs Wokingham & Emmbrook

The FA Youth Cup

Extra Preliminary Round (to be played week commencing 14 August 2023)

Hungerford Town vs North Leigh
Kidlington vs Thatcham Town
Wantage Town vs Bracknell Town

Preliminary Round (to be played week commencing 4 September 2023)

Ardley United vs Didcot Town
Cove vs Hungerford Town or North Leigh
Kidlington or Thatcham Town vs Aylesbury Vale Dynamos
Thame United vs Wallingford & Crowmarsh
Wantage Town or Bracknell Town vs Yateley United