FA Vase: West End drawn away to Socrates’ old club Garforth!
Sunderland West End will hit the road in the first qualifying round of the FA Vase after being handed an away tie at Garforth Town.
The Yorkshire outfit – who once fielded former Manchester United winger Lee Sharpe and Brazilian duo Socrates and Careca – ply their trade in the top tier of the Northern Counties East League and will provide a tough test for Darren Liddle’s side on September 19.
The West End boss revealed that he will call on the advice of Wearside neighbours Ryhope CW after they beat Garforth in last season’s competition.
He told The Echo :“I haven’ t had a chance to look into them yet, but I know Ryhope beat them last year and we will speak to Gary Pearson and Chris McCabe when we play the min a friendly over the next couple of weeks.
“We always go into a game trying to give it ago and this will be no different.
“There is no pressure on us, we are underdogs with them being a level above us.
“That suits us, we are happy with that tag, we had it all of last season, but it’ s definitely an exciting tie for us .”
A win in Yorkshire would see West End land £725 in prize money and host Seaham Red Star in the second qualifying round.
Elsewhere in the first qualifying round draw, Durham City will entertain Thackley and Chester-le-Street Town have been handed a tough test as they travel to Shildon.
Sunderland RCA will host the winners of the Cestrians’ tie against Shildon in the second qualifying round.
Washington will be up against it when they visit Northern League First Division side Guisborough Town and Jarrow will travel to West Yorkshire to face Steeton.
Ryhope CW will enter the competition in the second qualifying round, and they face an away day as they visit Northern Counties East League club Campion.
There st of the draw, locally, is: Bishop Auckland v Billingham Synthonia, Bedlington TerriersvH eaton Stan nington,C rook Townv Albion Sports, Willing tonvWhickh am, North Shields vT ow Law Town, Northallerton Town v Billingham Town, West Allotment Celtic v Penrith, Ryton &Craw crook A lb ionvAshingt on, Whitley Bayv Newcastle University, Newton Aycliffe v Barnoldswick Town, Birtley Town v Squires Gate, Carlisle City v Nelson.
Second qualifying round (ties to be played Saturday, October 10): Esh Winning v AFC Blackpool or Knaresborough Town, Whitley Bay or Newcastle University v Thornaby, Holker Old Boys or Eccleshill
Un it edvC rook Town or Albion Sports, Silsden or Garstang v Guisborough Town or Washington, Durham City or Thackley v Harrogate Railway Athletic or Cleator Moor Celtic, Redcar Athletic v Willington or Whickham, Bedlington Terriers or Heaton Stannington v Padiham, North Shields or Tow Law Town v Northallerton Town or Billingham Town, Carlisle City or Nelson v Ryton & Crawcrook Albion or Ashington, Newton Aycliffe or Barnoldswick Town v Bishop Auckland or Billingham Synthonia, Brandon United v West Allotment Celtic or Penrith, Steeton or Jarrow v Birtley Town or Squires Gate, Sunderland RCA v Shildon or Chester-Le-Street Town, Camp ionvS under landRy hope CW, Garforth Town or Sunderland West End v Seaham Red Star.