THE PRELIMINARY rounds of next season’s FA Cup have been confirmed, with teams in the Wessex League and the Southern League Division One South learning their opponents in the world’s oldest football competition.

Wessex League teams enter the competition from the get go, with sides from the eighth tier of English football, including Wimborne, Bashley, and Hamworthy United, entering at the preliminary round.

Bournemouth Poppies travel to recently promoted Bemerton Heath Harlequins in the extra preliminary round, with a win setting up another away fixture with either Lymington Town or Petersfield Town.

Two Southern League teams in the local area that enter the competition at this stage have been awarded home draws.

Hamworthy United will welcome the winners of Moneyfields’ clash with Westbury United, whilst divisional rivals Wimborne Town face whoever comes out on top between Paulton Rovers and Thatcham Town.

Bashley similarly must wait to find out their opponents, with their travels depending on the winners of Welton Rovers v Fareham Town.

Victory at home for Brockenhurst against Fleet Town in the extra preliminary round will set up a trip to a divisional rival – either Horndean or Portland United.

Blackfield & Langley travel to Bristol to face Oldlands Abbotonians, with a win giving them home advantage against either Laverstock & Ford or Andover New Street, both teams plying their trade in the division below.

Extra preliminary round ties will be staged on Saturday, August 5, with replays required if scores remain level after 90 minutes.

Replays must be completed on or before Thursday, August 10.

The preliminary round takes place later in August, on Saturday 19. Again, replays will be required if teams cannot be separated inside regular time, with any rematches having to be completed on or before Thursday, August 24.

Winning sides of the extra preliminary round will rake in a healthy boon of £1,125, with losing sides awarded £375.

If sides come out on top of their preliminary round ties, they will win £1,444 in prize money, knocked out teams taking a consolatory £481.