The Football Association released details of the draws for the early rounds of this season’s FA Cup on Friday lunchtime.

Easington Colliery manager Olly Hotchkiss has admitted a good FA Cup run is one of his targets of the new season.

The Colliers discovered they will visit Northern League Division One rivals Whitley Bay in the extra preliminary round of the competition next month when the Football Association released details of the draws for the early rounds of all of their national cup competitions on Friday morning. A win over the four-time FA Vase winners would set up another away day in the preliminary round with the winners of the tie at Hillheads scheduled to visit either Northern Counties East League side Knaresborough Town or Division One rivals Whickham.

Easington Colliery manager Olly Hotchkiss (photo Konner Wells) | Konner Wells

placeholder image — Easington Colliery manager Olly Hotchkiss (photo Konner Wells) | Konner Wells

With the new season now just weeks away, Hotchkiss is adamant he will not allow his Colliers side to stand still after securing a mid-table finish last season - and stressed making progress in a number of cup competitions is high on the list of priorities for the campaign.

He told The Echo: “In terms of the league, we want to finish as high up the table as we possibly can this season but we know that won’t be easy. We know we can have a good season with the players we have brought in and the ones that have stayed because we did well last season. I hate standing still, it’s a pet hate, but you’re guided by resources and I’m not silly enough to think we are in a tough position financially compared to some other clubs in the division.

“But we also want to have some good cup runs and we want to go a little bit further in the Vase than we have in recent seasons and we want to reclaim the Brooks Mileson League Cup or have a good run in the Durham Challenge Cup. Can we have a good run in the FA Cup and have a go at getting through a few rounds? The money that brings and the prestige it can bring is huge for us but we know it won’t be easy because you’re always in the lap of the gods when it comes to the draws - but it’s definitely one of our aims for the season.”

EMIRATES FA CUP – EXTRA PRELIMINARY ROUND

Easington Colliery will visit Whitley Bay in the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup (photo Mark Carruthers) | Mark Carruthers

Yarm & Eaglescliffe v West Auckland Town, Carlisle City v Northallerton Town, Consett v North Shields, Whitley Bay v Easington Colliery, Birtley Town v Bishop Auckland, Penrith v Bridlington Town, Shildon v Blyth Town, Ashington v Horden Community Welfare, Marske United v Boro Rangers (w/o for Marske United), Newcastle Benfield v Redcar Town, Guisborough Town v Thornaby, Crook Town v Pickering Town, Newton Aycliffe v Kendal Town, Knaresborough Town v Whickham, Blyth Spartans v Newcastle Blue Star

EMIRATES FA CUP – PRELIMINARY ROUND

General view of the Emirates FA Cup trophy prior to the Emirates FA Cup Final match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on May 17, 2025 in London, England. | Getty Images

Newcastle Benfield or Redcar Town v Penrith or Bridlington Town, Ashington or Horden Community Welfare v Guisborough Town or Thornaby, Newton Aycliffe or Kendal Town v Heaton Stannington, Blyth Spartans or Newcastle Blue Star v Morpeth Town, Yarm & Eaglescliffe or West Auckland Town v Shildon or Blyth Town, Consett or North Shields v Marske United, Crook Town or Pickering Town v Birtley Town or Bishop Auckland, Knaresborough Town or Whickham v Whitley Bay or Easington Colliery, Carlisle City or Northallerton Town v Dunston

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