Emirates FA Cup - Draw for the First Qualifying Round
Mon 18th August 2025 | FA Challenge Cup | By Martin Fallon
The draw for the First Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup has been released.
Having started with 23 clubs in the Extra Preliminary Round, we are now down to four Premier Division sides who are definitely through to the next round with two more potentially joining them after replays this coming midweek.
Details of the draw are below that involve NWCFL sides are below:
THE EMIRATES FA CUP FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND
SATURDAY 30th AUGUST 2025
WINNING CLUB TO RECEIVE £2,250 LOSERS RECEIVE £750
Atherton LR v Atherton Collieries
Bishop Auckland v Chadderton
Hebburn Town v Longridge Town
Sildsden or Ramsbottom United v Bootle
West Auckland Town or Bridlington Town v Wythenshawe or Vauxhall Motors
West Didsbury & Chorlton v Runcorn Linnets
The biggest tie of the First Qualifying Round is the return of the "Flat Cap Derby" as Atherton LR host neighbours Atherton Collieries. The two sides have not faced each other in a competitive game for almost three years, that coming in the Lancashire Challenge Trophy. The two have met five times in the FA Vase in the past but have never met in the FA Cup before.
Colls have been members of the Northern Premier League since winning our Premier Division in 2016/17. They have met NWCFL sides eight times since, winning five and losing three, although this is the first time that they will have faced one of our sides in an FA Competition.
Colls had a walkover in the Extra Preliminary Round this season after Farsley Celtic's demise, before a 2-0 win over Prestwich Heys on Saturday.
West Didsbury & Chorlton are the only other side definitely at home, and they will take on another NWCFL side in Runcorn Linnets. They won our Premier Division the year after Atherton Colls, and faced our sides twice in the FA Cup since their promotion. Both went to a replay away from home which Linnets won. They have also faced our sides in the Cheshire and Liverpool Senior Cups, with Linnets having an impressive nine wins from eleven meetings.
In the FA Cup this season, Runcorn Linnets have beaten Clitheroe 1-0 at home before a 3-0 away win at Whitchurch Alport on Saturday.
Longridge Town face the longest away trip as they travelled up to South Tyneside, Tyne and Wear to play Northern Premier League side Hebburn Town. Hebburn play in the Premier Division of the Northern Premier League now, having being promoted from the Northern League during Covid and then winning the NPL East Play-Off in 2022/23.
The two have met before in the last 16 of the FA Vase in 2019/20, Hebburn winning 1-0 before going on to lift the trophy at Wembley. In total they have faced our sides 20 times in the past, winning 11, drawing five and losing four.
Hebburn have not played in the competition yet this season as Step 3 sides only enter at this round.
Chadderton also face a trip to the North East, heading to County Durham where they will face Bishop Auckland. They play in the Northern Premier League East having won the Northern League for the 19th time in their history in 2023/24.
This will be the first meeting between the two sides, and Bishops first meeting with one of our sides since November 2023 when they won 3-0 at Stockport Georgians. They have played 15 times against NWCFL sides, with an impressive record of 11 wins, one draw and three losses.
Bishop beat Whickham 5-0 in a Extra Preliminary Round replay after a 2-2 draw, before a 2-1 win over Horden Community Welfare on Saturday.
Should Ramsbottom United get past Silsden in Tuesday night's replay, then they will be at home to Bootle in the next round. The Bucks are in the Northern Premier League having also being promoted during Covid, and have firmly established themselves having finished no lower than 14th in their four seasons in that league.
Since leaving us, they have met our sides three times in the FA Cup, with one win and two losses. They also beat South Liverpool once in the Liverpool Senior Cup.
Bootle have won 4-0 at home to 1874 Northwich and 3-0 away at Sheffield in the Cup so far.
The final game will see Wythenshawe travel to West Auckland Town or Bridlington Town should they overcome Vauxhall Motors. That tie was abandoned on Saturday due to a player injury, with the replay at Vauxhall midweek.
West Auckland play in the Northern League and beat Garforth Town 3-2 in their first game. Bridlington play in the Northern Premier League and beat Knaresborough Town after a replay and a reordered game. The two sides drew 2-2 on Saturday.
Emirates FA Cup - Draw for the First Qualifying Round
Mon 18th August 2025 | FA Challenge Cup
By Martin Fallon
The draw for the First Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup has been released.
Having started with 23 clubs in the Extra Preliminary Round, we are now down to four Premier Division sides who are definitely through to the next round with two more potentially joining them after replays this coming midweek.
Details of the draw are below that involve NWCFL sides are below:
THE EMIRATES FA CUP FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND
SATURDAY 30th AUGUST 2025
WINNING CLUB TO RECEIVE £2,250 LOSERS RECEIVE £750
Atherton LR v Atherton Collieries
Bishop Auckland v Chadderton
Hebburn Town v Longridge Town
Sildsden or Ramsbottom United v Bootle
West Auckland Town or Bridlington Town v Wythenshawe or Vauxhall Motors
West Didsbury & Chorlton v Runcorn Linnets
The biggest tie of the First Qualifying Round is the return of the "Flat Cap Derby" as Atherton LR host neighbours Atherton Collieries. The two sides have not faced each other in a competitive game for almost three years, that coming in the Lancashire Challenge Trophy. The two have met five times in the FA Vase in the past but have never met in the FA Cup before.
Colls have been members of the Northern Premier League since winning our Premier Division in 2016/17. They have met NWCFL sides eight times since, winning five and losing three, although this is the first time that they will have faced one of our sides in an FA Competition.
Colls had a walkover in the Extra Preliminary Round this season after Farsley Celtic's demise, before a 2-0 win over Prestwich Heys on Saturday.
West Didsbury & Chorlton are the only other side definitely at home, and they will take on another NWCFL side in Runcorn Linnets. They won our Premier Division the year after Atherton Colls, and faced our sides twice in the FA Cup since their promotion. Both went to a replay away from home which Linnets won. They have also faced our sides in the Cheshire and Liverpool Senior Cups, with Linnets having an impressive nine wins from eleven meetings.
In the FA Cup this season, Runcorn Linnets have beaten Clitheroe 1-0 at home before a 3-0 away win at Whitchurch Alport on Saturday.
Longridge Town face the longest away trip as they travelled up to South Tyneside, Tyne and Wear to play Northern Premier League side Hebburn Town. Hebburn play in the Premier Division of the Northern Premier League now, having being promoted from the Northern League during Covid and then winning the NPL East Play-Off in 2022/23.
The two have met before in the last 16 of the FA Vase in 2019/20, Hebburn winning 1-0 before going on to lift the trophy at Wembley. In total they have faced our sides 20 times in the past, winning 11, drawing five and losing four.
Hebburn have not played in the competition yet this season as Step 3 sides only enter at this round.
Chadderton also face a trip to the North East, heading to County Durham where they will face Bishop Auckland. They play in the Northern Premier League East having won the Northern League for the 19th time in their history in 2023/24.
This will be the first meeting between the two sides, and Bishops first meeting with one of our sides since November 2023 when they won 3-0 at Stockport Georgians. They have played 15 times against NWCFL sides, with an impressive record of 11 wins, one draw and three losses.
Bishop beat Whickham 5-0 in a Extra Preliminary Round replay after a 2-2 draw, before a 2-1 win over Horden Community Welfare on Saturday.
Should Ramsbottom United get past Silsden in Tuesday night's replay, then they will be at home to Bootle in the next round. The Bucks are in the Northern Premier League having also being promoted during Covid, and have firmly established themselves having finished no lower than 14th in their four seasons in that league.
Since leaving us, they have met our sides three times in the FA Cup, with one win and two losses. They also beat South Liverpool once in the Liverpool Senior Cup.
Bootle have won 4-0 at home to 1874 Northwich and 3-0 away at Sheffield in the Cup so far.
The final game will see Wythenshawe travel to West Auckland Town or Bridlington Town should they overcome Vauxhall Motors. That tie was abandoned on Saturday due to a player injury, with the replay at Vauxhall midweek.
West Auckland play in the Northern League and beat Garforth Town 3-2 in their first game. Bridlington play in the Northern Premier League and beat Knaresborough Town after a replay and a reordered game. The two sides drew 2-2 on Saturday.
