Town’s two teams find out their FA Cup opponents

Leicester Road and Hinckley AFC taking part in competition

EXCITEMENT for the new season has ramped up after the opening two rounds of the FA’s trophy competitions were announced.

Hinckley’s two teams, Hinckley AFC and Leicester Road FC, both feature in the FA Cup and the FA vase with first fixtures taking place in a little under a month’s time.

Hinckley AFC have been drawn at home to Heanor Town in the extra preliminary round of the Emirates FA Cup.

The draw, made on Friday, sees AFC at home to Midland League Premier Division opponents for the second consecutive season after Heanor finished sixth in the league above Hinckley last season.

Leicester Road are pitched against Retford United away in the same round. AFC are due to play on Friday August 5 while LRFC are due to play on Saturday August 6.

The winners of each go forward to the preliminary round scheduled to take place on August 20.

If AFC are victorious they will enjoy a home tie against Oadby Town or Long Eaton United while should LRFC get through they will host Anstey Nomads or Harborough Town.

Higher-ranked Barwell FC will enter the competition at a later stage.

In the FA Vase, an away trip to Holbrook Sports awaits AFC on September 10.

Should Carl Abbott’s side overcome the East Midland Counties League side they will be on the road again in the second qualifying round, with Greenwood Meadows the potential destination on September 24.

Leicester Road’s opponents in the FA Vase are Derbyshire outfit Clay Cross Town.

Hinckley AFC manager Carl Abbott admits his side have been dealt a difficult draw in the Emirates FA Cup and will need to be at their best to advance in the competition.

He said: “Heanor are a very good side. They’re in the league above and we’ve been matched tough again. It’s going to take a massive effort to get through that first game. If we give our best and we don’t get through that game, the real prize for us is the league and we’ll get stuck into that.”

Abbott, though, will take heart from his side’s performance in the FA Cup last season. Hinckley beat another Midland League Premier side, Walsall Wood, in the extra preliminary round.

“We were the giant-killers against Redditch and against Walsall Wood as well really.

“We have nothing to lose and everything to gain.”