12:20pm Sunday 5th July 2009
By Ian Whiting
The FA Cup extra preliminary round draw has not been kind to the local semi-professional clubs, with all four of the eligible sides facing tough games on the second Saturday of the forthcoming season.
The date for the extra round is August 15, which follows quickly on the heels of the Kool Sport Northern Counties East League League and Vodkat League opening fixtures the previous weekend.
Thackley, Eccleshill United and Liversedge face tricky trips to the north east and although Silsden have a home tie, it is against one of their fiercest rivals.
Colne will be the visitors to Cougar Park, while Thackley travel to Bedlington Terriers, Eccleshill journey to Hebburn Town and Sedge have to visit West Allotment Celtic.
The first preliminary round follows a fortnight later and should any of the four clubs make it through, they will have another testing fixture.
Bedlington or Thackley will host UniBond outfit Garforth Town; the winners of Hebburn Town against Eccleshill also have a home tie against either Hall Road Rangers or Bishop Auckland; and should Sedge overcome West Allotment, they face another trip north to either Horden Colliery Welfare or Tow Law Town.
Silsden will be the only local club to have a second home tie, should they defeat Colne. Their preliminary round tie would be against Abbey Hay or Hallam.
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