WHO WILL BE CUP HISTORY MAKERS?

FA CUP 2021-22 PRELIMINARY ROUND PREVIEW

- Phill Annets

ONE hundred and thirty-six Step 4 clubs are joined in the FA Cup Preliminary Round next weekend by 174 other clubs from that level and below who battled their way through the Extra Preliminary Round.

This total includes 19 clubs appearing in the Preliminary Round for the first time, made up of ten teams who finally registered their first FA Cup win – K Sports, Avro FC, Campion FC, Punjab United, Stone Old Alleynians, Kennington, Little Oakley, Lower Breck, Millbrook AFC and Mulbarton Wanderers – and nine others competing in the FA Cup for the first time.

Among those debut clubs is Jersey Bulls, who won 10-1 in their Extra Preliminary Round to record the joint 11th best margin of victory in a debut FA Cup game, and became the first debutant club to score double figures in their opening match for 76 years. The other first-time winners are Alton FC, Kensington & Ealing Borough, Mousehole FC, Wythenshawe Town, Uttoxeter Town, Macclesfield FC, Redcar Athletic and Athletic Newham.

Step 6 clubs Campion AFC and Kensington and Ealing Borough appear to have the toughest tasks in the next round as they have been drawn against Step 4 opponents in Prescot Cables and Romford respectively.