The draws for the early rounds of the FA Cup, FA Trophy and FA Youth Cup have been made today and the Lancers have been handed home draws in each.

In the FA Cup we have an exemption until the preliminary round but will play the winner of Chipstead v Athletic Newham on August 17th at Culver Road. Surrey based Chipstead FC play in the Combined Counties League South, having been relegated from the Isthmian League Central Division last season. We beat Chipstead 4-2 away in the FA Trophy last season. Athletic Newham are members of the Essex Senior League where they finished 11th last season.

Our FA Trophy campaign also kicks off with a home tie against Southall which will be on August 24th. Southall are based in the London Borough of Ealing and finished 4th in the Isthmian League Central Division last season, losing on penalties to Saturday’s opponents Leatherhead in a penalty shoot out in the play off semi final. The winner of that tie will be at home to Burgess Hill on September 7th who will need no introduction to Lancing fans.

Our Youth Team have also been handed a home tie in the Preliminary Round, being exempt from the Extra Preliminary Round, playing Tooting and Mitcham on the week commencing September 2nd. They are based in the London Borough of Merton and were beaten 3-2 by Lewes at this stage last year although they made it through to the second qualifying round in 22/23 where they were eventually beaten on penalties by Hastings United. Last season Lancing made it to the second qualifying round, beating Billingshurst and Redhill at home before succumbing to Kingstonian away.