Stratford Town handed away draw in FA Cup first qualifying round

STRATFORD Town will begin their 2022-23 FA Cup adventure on their travels with a trip to either the Lincolnshire coast or Sheffield.

The Bards enjoyed a record-breaking cup campaign last time, reaching the first round for the first time in their 60-year history and featuring live on ITV4 against Shrewsbury Town.

This year, Dean Holdsworth’s side have been drawn away in the first qualifying round to either Cleethorpes Town or Handsworth Parramore.

The sides drew 1-1 on Saturday and will replay at Sheffield side Handsworth on Wednesday night.

Cleethorpes play in the Northern Premier League Division One East, while Handsworth, who were only established in 2014, are in the Northern Counties East Premier Division.

Cleethorpes, nicknamed The Owls, have started the season with back-to-back league wins while Handsworth, known as the Ambers, have won two out of their three league games.

The winners of the first qualifying round will receive £2,250 and the losers £750.

The tie will be played on Saturday, 3rd September.