Brandon United, who finished in the top six of the Albany Northern League and reached the final of the Durham Challenge Cup last season, must start right at the beginning of this year's FA Cup competition on August 25.

The draw for the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup to be played on Saturday August 25 has been made

Draw: Newcastle Blue Star v Hebburn,Brandon v St Helens, Marske United v Abbey Hey.

The preliminary round draw on September 1 includes: Warrington v Ashington, Spennymoor v Mossley, Eccleshill v Chester-le-Street, Yorkshire Amateurs v Shildon, Guisborough v Bacup, EshW inning v Ashton United, West Auckland v Harrogate Town, Horden v Evenwood,N orthallerton v Chorley, Shotton v Pickering. Selby v South Shields, MarskeU nited or Abbey Hey v Flixton or Maine Road, Billingham Synthonia v Tow Law, Brigg Town or Great Harwood v Morpeth, Kendal v Consett, Skelmersdale v Jarrow Roofing, Willington v Durham City, Sheffield v Dunston, Parkgate v Crook Town, Peterlee v Castleton Gabriels, Easington v Denaby, Seaham v Brandon or St Helens, Thornaby v Billingham Town, Ossett Albion v Bedlington, Newcastle Blue Star or Hebburn v Whitley Bay.

Bishop Auckland have been given exemption to the second round of the FA Umbro Trophy.

The first round draw on November 3 is: Blyth v Burscough, Gateshead v Redditch, Atherstone v Spennymoor, Stocksbridge v Whitby.

The draw for the first qualifying round of the FA Carlsberg Vase on September 8 is: Cheadle v Nissan, West Auckland vA shington, Winterton v North Shields, Willington v Parkgate, Glasshoughton v Whickham, Chester-le-Street v Ramsbottom, Norton v Nelson, Maine Road v Billingham Synthonia, Selby v Easington, Maltby v Peterlee, Hebburn v EshW inning.

The second qualifying round draw on September 22 is: Willington or Parkgate v Cammell Laird, Newcastle Benfield Saints vM altby or Peterlee, Denaby v Shotton, Maine Road or Billingham Synthonia vH orden, Winterton or North Shields v Atherton LR, Alnwick v Squires Gate,N ewcastle Blue Star v Glasshoughton or Whickham, Guisborough v West Allotment, Norton or Nelson v Garforth, Blackpool Mechanics v Brandon, Great Harwood vS hildon, Northallerton v West Auckland or Ashington, Prescot Cables v Morpeth, Colne v Whitley Bay, Durham City v South Shields, Poulton or Pickering v Selby or Easington, Holker Old Boys v Chester-le-Street, Washington v Jarrow Roofing, Thornaby v Abbey Hey, Oldham Town or Chadderton v Evenwood, Hebburn or EshW inning v Crook Town, Cheadle or Nissan v Penrith, Seaham Red Star v Skelmersdale.

Dunston and Tow Law have exemption to the first round, while Bedlington, Billingham Town, Consett and Marske are all exempt to the following round.

The draw for the first qualifying round of the FA Youth Cup is: Crook v Gretna, Consett v Northwich, Emley v Chester-le-Street, Dunston v Marine.

Stepy's Coaches Durham Sunday League

The new season is almost upon us and at the League's annual meeting the following officials were re-elected.

President Graham Kelly, Vice-President Colin Verne-Jones, Chairman Michael Henderson, Vice-Chairman Colin Coates, Hon General Secretary Graham Lilley, Hon Fixture Secretary Chris Tindale, Hon Registration Secretary Gary Davies, Hon Treasurer David Patterson. League Management Committee is made up from Adrian Traylen (Ushaw Moor Cricket Club) Richard Sowerby (Referee's Society Durham), Ian Ward (Houghton Chilton Lodge), Dale Moon (Fatfield North Biddick), Peter Playle (Washington Arms), Mitch Thompson (Houghton Mill All Stars), Steven Taylor,(Esh Winning Rovers).

The League's magazine is titled Soccer Its a Kick In the Grass is produced and edited By Peter Playle and he can be contacted on e-mail at peter.playle Hetton Lyons Cricket Club

Player Of the Year: Tony Hanson (Meadowfield Brancepeth Castle)

Durham County Sunday Cup: Hetton Lyons Cricket Club

Durham County CIU Cup Winners: Newton Aycliffe WMC

Castlebank Butchers Fairplay League Winners: Langley Park Rams Head

Durham Trophies League's Leading Scorers: Newton Aycliffe WMC

Referee of the Year: Bill McGlenn