Ely City Gear Up For The FA Cup

It only seems like yesterday that Manchester City lifted the famous FA Cup trophy, but now that the draw for the Extra Preliminary Round has been made, Ely City know exactly what they have to do when the competition starts all over again on Saturday August 20, 2011.

Ely City's opponents in the Extra Preliminary Round of the competition will be Diss Town, who will have to travel to the Unwin Sports Ground to do battle for a share of the £750 purse and a place in the Preliminary Round. Ely finished 15th in the Eastern Counties League Premier Division last season, while in-form Diss were promoted into that division after completing their Eastern Counties League Division One campaign in third place.

If Ely get past Diss, they will play at home again, facing either Walsham Le Willows or Thetford Town on Saturday September 3, with a prize of £1500 for the victors. The winners of that match will make it through to First Round Qualifying on Saturday September 17, when they will travel to the last team standing from Needham Market, Felixstowe, Walton United and Norwich United, with £3000 going to the winners.

To get in shape for the new season, Ely City will be playing a series of friendlies, starting on Saturday July 16 with a home game against Kings Lynn.

Extra Preliminary Round

Ties to be played on Saturday August 20, 2011

Yaxley v Godmanchester Rovers

Stanway Rovers v Hadleigh Utd

King's Lynn Town v Whitton Utd

Woodbridge Town v Gorleston

St Ives Town v Debenham LC

Wroxham v Dereham Town

Ipswich Wanderers v Newmarket Town

Mildenhall Town v Brantham Athletic

Walsham Le Willows v Thetford Town

March Town Utd v Kirkley & Pakefield

Ely City v Diss Town

Stowmarket Town v Haverhill Rovers

Felixstowe & Walton Utd v Norwich Utd

Long Melford v Saffron Walden Town

Wisbech Town v Halstead Town

Gt Yarmouth Town v FC Clacton

Burnham Ramblers v Barking

Witham Town v Bedford.