The Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round this weekend will see nineteen Essex Senior League teams entering the fray, with the ESL guaranteed at least five teams in the Preliminary Round due to the fact that the draw threw up five all-ESL ties. Tower Hamlets host new members Stanway Rovers, while St. Margaretsbury, another newcomer to the ESL, start their FA Cup campaign with a home tie against Enfield 1893 with the winners facing the winners of Redbridge v Long Melford. Barkingside host Leyton Athletic, Sporting Bengal United welcome Ilford to Mile End Stadium, while Stansted entertain Sawbridgeworth Town in the other all-ESL affairs. It didn’t take long for FC Romania to return to their former stomping ground as the draw paired them with Southend Manor. The Wolves guaranteed 3rd spot after winning at the end of last season at Southchurch Park. Now Manor have a chance to put one over their former league foes with the winners then going on to face Grays Athletic. Interestingly West Essex also face a recent ESL side as they make a quick re-visit to Burnham Ramblers. The hosts were relegated last season and West Essex therefore go into this one as the club playing at the higher level. If West Essex take care of business on this excursion then they will be visiting Heybridge Swifts in the next round. Hullbridge Sports and Walthamstow both face Thurlow Nunn League opposition in the shape of Gorleston and Walsham le Willows but at least play them on their own turf; not so for Clapton, Hoddesdon Town, Saffron Walden Town and Takeley who were paired as the away side against Woodbridge Town, Wodson Park, Wroxham and Norwich United respectively.
Extra Preliminary Round
Saturday 11th August
Barkingside v Leyton Athletic
Burnham Ramblers v West Essex
Hullbridge Sports v Gorleston
Norwich United v Takeley
Redbridge v Long Melford
Southend Manor v FC Romania
Sporting Bengal United v Ilford
Tower Hamlets v Stanway Rovers
Walthamstow v Walsham le Willows
Wroxham v Saffron Walden Town
Wodson Park v Hoddesdon Town
Woodbridge Town v Clapton
Sunday 12th August
St. Margaretsbury v Enfield 1893
Stansted v Sawbridgeworth Town
