DARLINGTON have been handed a home tie in the FA Cup against Bradford (Park Avenue), a team third in the National League North table.

Regionalised at this stage, second qualifying round winners pocket £9,000, the FA having this season doubled the prize money at stake.

The match is due to be played a week on Saturday, but Blackwell Meadows landlords Darlington Rugby Club are at home to Sedgefield, so Quakers could be in action on the Friday or Sunday.

The game will be Tommy Wright first’s FA Cup contest with Quakers, and he will hope to enjoy more success than predecessor Martin Gray.

Darlington have fallen at the first hurdle in each of the last three years – against Hyde, Lancaster and South Shields, and only once in the past 15 seasons have they won two FA Cup ties in the same season.

That was in 2010-11, when Mark Cooper’s team overcame Mossley and Bristol Rovers before losing to York City at The Northern Echo Arena.