Potential derbies as FA draws are made

The draws for the men’s FA competitions for the season ahead were made on Friday morning, with numerous Oxfordshire clubs finding out their fate. Highlights include a potential short trip to Milton United for Didcot Town in the FA Cup, and one of Kidlington and Wantage Town are guaranteed a first FA Trophy win after the two were drawn together.

Oxfordshire sides find out FA competitions fate

The draws for the opening rounds of the major FA competitions – the FA Cup, FA Trophy, FA Vase and FA Youth Cup were revealed on Friday morning.

The Extra Preliminary Round, on the 15th August, will see eight of our Hellenic sides kick off. Chinnor (home vs Hartley & Wintney), Hook Norton (home vs Frimley Green), Shrivenham (away vs Cove) and Thame United (home vs Farnham Town) were lucky enough for avoid familiar Hellenic foes, whilst Kidlington’s trip to Ascot United will see two of the favourites for the Hellenic title go head-to-head.

The standout tie in the Preliminary Round two weeks later is a derby between Wantage Town and Didcot Town, the second time in three years they’ve met at this stage (Didcot won 3-2). Banbury United and North Leigh could potentially face Oxfordshire derbies too, with Banbury playing the winners between Chinnor and Harley & Wintney, and North Leigh travelling to Cove or Shrivenham.