Golcar United and Emley AFC have found out their first opponents in this year’s FA Cup – and it’s the first time in Golcar’s history they are taking part in football’s oldest competition.

While it’s all new to the Weavers, Emley still have memories of pushing Premier League club West Ham United all the way in the third round in 1998.

Golcar have been draw away at Stocksbridge Park Steels in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round on Saturday August 6. That’s the club where Leicester City’s former England striker Jamie Vardy started his career.

On Golcar’s historic FA Cup tie, club secretary Ben Senior said: “We are so excited to playing in the FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history. This is a huge moment for our club and one we are relishing. We would have liked to have a home draw in front of our home fans but you can’t have everything. 

“It will be a very difficult game as they are a good side who play in the league above us. We will be doing all we can to get through to the next round. We will be organising a coach for the game so please contact the club if you want to travel with us.”

If Golcar do make it through to the next round of the cup, the Preliminary Round, they will face Prestwich Heys from the North West Counties Premier Division on August 20. 

Meanwhile, Emley AFC will go up against Glossop North End away on the same weekend. Glossop are based in the Northern Premier League Division One West league which is step four of the football pyramid, one above Emley. 

The winners of that tie then have an away trip to either Eccleshill United or Sheffield FC on Saturday August 20.

Celebrations for Emley AFC as club reclaims archives and rich history

Emley chairman Andrew Painten said of the draw: “You can tell when the season’s close to starting when the early round draws are released and it certainly gets you excited and even dreaming of what’s in store. 

“Since the West Ham game, Emley hasn’t troubled the headline writers much but every season you start with that little voice saying ‘what if’ and you dream for a moment.

“Glossop will be a tough early season test for us but I feel like the FA Cup owes us a bit of good fortune so hopefully this is the year we can have a bit of a run.”