1984 Vase winners Stansted were drawn away to St Margaretsbury, whilst 2000 Vase winners Deal Town need to beat Hythe Town in a replay, before they can earn the chance to travel to Eastleigh. 1993 winners Bridlington Town who thumped North Shields 8-0 at the weekend will travel from East to South Yorkshire in the First Round to play Armthorpe Welfare.

Three teams with connections to the motoring world were all in the bag, and their supporters will no doubt be expecting them to roar into the Second Round.

Rolls Royce Leisure from Hucknall in Nottinghamshire will host Long Eaton United, Ford Sports Daventry travel to Glossop North End, and Concord Rangers who play on Canvey Island will need to overcome Ipswich Wanderers in a Second Qualifying Round replay if they are to fly up the East Coast to face Lowestoft Town.

Last weekend's top scorers Stratford Town have been rewarded with a home tie against Stourbridge, whilst the second oldest football club in the world (formed in 1860) Cray Wanderers travel south to Winchester City.

In 1992/93 Maidstone United were declared bankrupt halfway through the season, their record expunged from the Fourth Division.

Ten years later, the club currently have a 100% record in the Go Travel Kent County League as they attempt to scale the National League System pyramid, and after an 8-1 victory over Faversham at the weekend, and will host Sidlesham from West Sussex in the First Round of this season's FA Vase.

Team Bath have this season been attracting national media interest as the first University side for over 100 years to be playing in The FA Cup, and have so far progressed to the Second Qualifying Round, where they will host Bemerton Heath Harlequins this coming weekend. On the 19th October, they will travel to Fairford Town, a town better known for its RAF base than its football team.

Clubs competing in this year's competition field their fair share of extroverts and possess players that during the week combine training with all manner of occupations.

However, they have also been known to unearth the odd gem over the years, and this year is no different.

Greenwich Borough, who provided the initial platform for Arsenal's future record-breaking goalscorer Ian Wright, moved into the First Round with a 4-0 win on Saturday over Wokingham Town. More suited to playing on the banks of the Thames, they will be required to cross the Solent for their First Round fixture against Cowes Sports from the Isle of Wight.

Alvechurch made the semi-final of the 1966 FA Amateur Cup (the forerunner of The Vase) before losing 1-0 at Stamford Bridge against Wealdstone in front of an astonishing crowd of over 30,000.

In more recent times the Midlands club are better known for honing the raw skills of future Leicester City, Arsenal and England striker Alan Smith, who went on to partner Ian Wright in a hugely successful strike partnership at Highbury in the '90's, with Smith scoring the winning goal in Arsenal's 1994 UEFA Cup Winners Cup Final against Parma.

In the First Round on October 19th, one of Alvechurch's current generation of players will have the chance to make some headlines when they host Midlands rivals Rugby Town, who in an earlier form (as VS Rugby) won The FA Vase in 1983.

St Blazey were the club that first gave Nigel Martyn his first chance in the beautiful game before moving to Bristol Rovers, and the side from Cornwall will play host to Yate Town in the First Round.

And finally, mention must go to a former French international who scored the winning goal for Kingstonian in the last FA Trophy Final to be played at Wembley in 2000, and received one of the least offensive footballing nicknames from the K's supporters; 'The Lion King'.

Amara Simba is now playing his football by the seaside at Clacton Town, and he will be hoping for some more Disney-style magic when the Seasiders take on Middlesex side Southall Town.

Alex Stone

For the full First Round Draw, click here.