It’s almost that time of year again when the magic of the FA Cup is felt around English football. Whether you’re a supporter of a non-league club hoping for a memorable result against an EFL side, or an EFL fan, who wants to make the third round and face one of the Premier League big boys.
However, for supporters of a club like Wycombe Wanderers, drawing a non-league side away in the first round proper is always an exciting prospect, and the Blues did just that last season, albeit in the second round, when they travelled to National League Wealdstone.
The Chairboys also welcomed non league York City to Adams Park in the first round, where they played out a highly-entertaining match, which ended in a narrow 3-2 win for the hosts.
Now, with the draw set for Monday evening, Michael Duff’s side are set to find out who they will be facing in the first round of this season’s FA Cup, with plenty of exciting ties available.
With all 47 other League One and Two teams in the hat, we thought we’d look at some of the non-league sides Wanderers could draw on Monday, which could make for an exciting away day.
National League
Plenty of National League sides remain in the competition, having come into the competition at the final qualifying stage, meaning they had to win just a single game to make the first round proper.
This is a far cry from the slog that some teams have had to make to even get to that stage, winning multiple matches and pulling off giant killings before the competition has even started.
Both of Wycombe’s non-league opponents from last season’s FA Cup run have made the first round, which means the chance to renew acquiantances with both York and Wealdstone is on the cards.
Cup heroes Tamworth are also in the hat, having knocked out Huddersfield Town last season, and taken the mighty Tottenham Hotspur to extra-time at The Lamb Ground.
The furthest Northern and Southern clubs in non-league also remain in Carlisle United and Truro City, although the latter will need to beat AFC Totton in a replay to progress.
A full list of National League sides and their ball numbers can be found below:
51. Gainsborough Trinity or Hartlepool United
52. Carlisle United
53. York City
55. Morecambe or Chester
57. Tamworth
58. Scunthorpe United
59. Gateshead
61. FC Halifax Town
62. Altrincham or Harborough Town
63. Worthing or Forest Green Rovers
65. Woking or Brackley Town
66. Wealdstone
68. Boreham Wood
69. Eastleigh
70. Southend United
72. Braintree Town
78. AFC Totton or Truro City
79. Aldershot Town
80. Farnham Town or Sutton United
National League North/South
Unlike teams in the division above, National League North and South sides enter the competition in the second qualifying round, meaning they require three wins to progress to the first round proper.
There are a few sides who have achieved this feat this season, and will be looking to reap the rewards of an exciting clash with a League One or Two side.
From the Northern division, leaders South Shields are in the hat, along with Spennymoor Town, Buxton, Macclesfield, Chester, and ex-Wycombe striker Dan Udoh’s former club, AFC Telford United.
From the South segment, local neighbours Slough Town present a tasty prospect for a tie. Others include Weston-Super-Mare, AFC Totton, Worthing, Hemel Hempstead Town, and Ebbsfleet United, although some of these require replays to progress.
You can see a full list of National League North sides and ball numbers below:
49. AFC Telford United
50. Macclesfield
54. Buxton
55. Morecambe or Chester
56. South Shields
60. Spennymoor Town
You can see a full list of National League South sides and ball numbers below:
63. Worthing or Forest Green Rovers
67. Slough Town
71. Ebbsfleet United
74. Weston Super Mare
75. Hemel Hempstead Town
77. Chelmsford City
78. AFC Totton or Truro City
Regional Divisions
There are still a few sides from the Regional Divisions left in the competition, having come all the way from as far as the Extra Preliminary Round.
The lowest ranked side left in the competition is Isthmian League Division One North (eighth tier) side Maldon & Tiptree, who denied local side Flackwell Heath a place in the first round proper after defeating them 1-0 in the fourth qualifying round.
As for seventh tier sides, Isthmian Premier outfit Chatham Town have made the first round for the first time in 97 years, and could be joined by division rivals St Albans City.
The Southern Central Premiership has representation in Harborough Town and Banbury United, the former still have to face St Albans in a replay.
From The Southern South Premiership, Farnham Town suffered 98th minute heartbreak at the hands of Sutton United, meaning they will have to win a replay to progress.
And from the North, Gainsborough Trinity are the sole representation, and will need to beat National League Hartlepool United to make it into the first round proper.
A full list of teams from the Regional Divisions and ball numbers can be found below:
51. Gainsborough Trinity or Hartlepool United
62. Altrincham or Harborough Town
64. Maldon & Tiptree
73. Chatham Town
76. Banbury United or St Albans City
80. Farnham Town or Sutton United
Wycombe are ball number 48 for Monday’s draw, and will be keen to make some good progress in the competition, to add to their adventure in the EFL Cup, which has set them up for a fourth round tie with Fulham at Adams Park.
[All information gathered from The FA’s official website]
