Isuzu FA Vase First and Second Round Qualifying Draws

Fri 3rd July 2026 | FA Challenge Vase
By Martin Fallon

The FA have today released the draw details for the First and Second Round Qualifying of the 2026/27 Isuzu FA Vase.

Sixty of our member Clubs have entered this year's competition and 40 of those will start from the very beginning on 23rd August. There are eight all-NWCFL ties with the pick of those likely being Barnoldswick Town who will host fellow East Lancashire side Colne in what is quite a local derby. Another derby will come at Woolton who will face off against AFC Liverpool, the home side there looking for their first win in the compeition after debuting last season, which comes at Burscough's Community Stadium.

Flixton's first tie in the FA Vase since 2011 will see them host Worsbrough Bridge Athletic, whilst Trafford will make their return to the Vase for the first time since 2007 with a trip to Armthorpe Welfare.  

Foley Meir will be hunting their first ever outright Vase win as they host Redditch Borough, their only previous win coming on penalties. Redditch is the perfect draw for them, as they have never won in the competition either! 

The competition is always a chance to re-connect with some clubs that have left us and there is five ties that fit that description. New Mills have a tough task at home to Midland League side Northwich Victoria, whilst Daisy Hill will take on another Midland League side in Cheadle Town who were laterally moved from us this summer.

There are no sides from other leagues who have not faced a NWCFL side before, with Darlaston Town travelling to Telford Town, the first time since 2008 they will have faced one of our sides.  

The draw including our sides can be found below:


THE ISUZU FA VASE FIRST ROUND QUALIFYING

SATURDAY 15 AUGUST 2026

WINNING CLUB TO RECEIVE £550

LOSING CLUB TO RECEIVE £160

1. Squires Gate v Boro Rangers

3. Route One Rovers v AFC Blackpool

4. Kendal Town v Steeton

8. Bolden CA v Longridge Town

18. Barnoldswick Town v Colne

23. Winterton Rangers v Darwen

24. Glossop North End v Staveley Miners Welfare

25. Selby Town v Bacup Borough

26. Woolton v AFC Liverpool

27. New Mills v Northwich Victoria

28. Daisy Hill v Cheadle Town

29. Cheadle Heath Nomads v Wythenshawe Town

30. Retford v Euxton Villa

31. Flixton v Worsbrough Bridge Athletic

34. Irlam v Barnton

35. Atherton LR v Cammell Laird 1907

36. Maine Road v Litherland REMYCA

37. Armthorpe Welfare v Trafford

38. Ashton Athletic v FC St Helens

39. Appleby Frodingham v Charnock Richard

44. Stafford Town v Abbey Hulton United

45. Sandbach United v Ashby Ivanhoe

47. Eccleshall v Allscott Heath

49. Dudley Town v Alsager Town

50. Foley Meir v Redditch Borough

51. Studley v Market Drayton Town

52. Telford Town v Darlaston Town

53. Wednesfield Community v Sutton United (Birmingham)

 


No fewer than 14 of our clubs have received a bye through the opening round and enter the competition at this stage. Given the regionalised nature of the draw, there is potential for many more all-NWCFL sides meeting though should there be some favourable results in the First Round Qualifying.

Market Drayton Town will watch with interest as they face the winners of the Wolverhampton Casuals v Studley tie, whilst Trafford could face Charnock Richard in an-all Premier Division tie if they both win their Extra Preliminary Round games.  

We are guaranteed two sides through to the First Round Proper from the draw. Abbey Hey will travel to the winners of the Atherton LRCammell Laird 1907 game, whilst the winners of Woolton v AFC Liverpool will face the winners of Maine Road v Litherland REMYCA

Uppermill will make their FA Vase debut with a home tie against either Retford or Premier Division Euxton Villa. Fellow newcomers Crewe also make their debut and they have been handed a tough looking away trip to Coton Green.

There are potentially a few new opponents for our sides this time. Holker Old Boys will host Seaton Carew, last season's Wearside League champions making their FA Vase debut. And Foley Meir would welcome FC Stratford to them if they progress, last season's Hellenic League Division One Champions also making their FA Vase debut.

The draw including our sides can be found below:


THE ISUZU FA VASE SECOND ROUND QUALIFYING

SATURDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 2026

WINNING CLUB TO RECEIVE £725

LOSING CLUB TO RECEIVE £225

3. Holker Old Boys v Seaton Carew

6 Thackley or Yarm & Eaglescliffe v Kendal Town or Steeton

7 Tow Law Town v Barnoldswick Town or Colne

9 Thornaby or Blyth Town v Squires Gate or Boro Rangers

12 Garstang v Shildon

16 Campion or Prudhoe Youth Club v Boldon CA or Longridge Town

17 Newcastle Benfield v Thornton Cleveleys

19 Route One Rovers or AFC Blackpool v Horden Community Welfare

20 Barton Town or Runcorn Town v Daisy Hill or Cheadle Town

21 Atherton LR or Cammell Laird 1907 v Abbey Hey

22 Ashton Athletic or FC St Helens v Frickley Athletic

24 Selby Town or Bacup Borough v Swallownest

26 Maghull v Horbury Town or Club Thorne Colliery

27 Stockport Georgians or Penistone Church v Glossop North End or Staveley MW

28 Winterton Rangers or Darwen v New Mills or Northwich Victoria

29 Irlam or Barnton v Parkgate

30. Flixton or Worsbrough Bridge Athletic v Wakefield

31 Armthorpe Welfare or Trafford v Appleby Frodingham or Charnock Richard

32 Uppermill v Retford or Euxton Villa

33 Woolton or AFC Liverpool v Maine Road or Litherland REMYCA

34 Cheadle Heath Nomads or Wythenshawe Town v Sheffield or Crowle Colts 

35 Ashville v Athersley Recreation

37 Wednesfield Community or Sutton United (Birmingham) v Dudley Town or Alsager Town 

38 Coventry Copsewood v AFC Bridgnorth or Droitwich Spa

39 AFC Wolverhampton City v Whitchurch Alport

40 Coton Green v Crewe

44 Stourport Swifts or Knowle v Sandbach United or Ashby Ivanhoe

45 Stafford Town or Abbey Hulton United v Pershore Town 88 or Romulus 

47 Telford Town or Darlaston Town v Bewdley Town

49 Wolverhampton Casuals v Studley or Market Drayton Town

50 Eccleshall or Allscott Heath v Coventry Sphinx or Cradley Town

51 Foley Meir or Redditch Borough v FC Stratford

52 Rugby Town v Shawbury United

 

 

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