NON-LEAGUE clubs have learned who they will be facing in the opening rounds of the FA Cup, FA Trophy and FA Vase.

Tilbury, Thurrock and Aveley of the Ryman North were pulled out of the hat in the preliminary round of the competition last Friday, with tricky tests for the south Essex step eight teams.

Aveley host last season’s Ryman North play-off semi-finalists AFC Hornchurch when they get underway on Saturday, August 20 and Tilbury visit Brentwood Town, recently relegated from the Ryman Premier League.

Thurrock have the most straight forward tie on paper, as they welcome either Halstead Town or Newmarket Town, who play two tiers and one tier below them respectively.

National League South newcomers East Thurrock United enter the competition in the second qualifying round.

The FA Trophy gets underway in the second week of October, with the preliminary round and first qualifying rounds drawn at Wembley last week.

Once again Thurrock are at home, and they face a tasty looking tie against Ryman North newcomers Bowers & Pitsea with the champions of that division last season, AFC Sudbury, waiting in the following round.

Aveley travel to Witham Town in the preliminary round, with a trip to Biggleswade Town, of the Southern Premier Division, the prize should they win.

Tilbury do battle with Lewes at the Dripping Pan in the preliminary round, and they will visit Ryman Premier League hotshots Kingstonian should they get through that tie.

Grays Athletic enter the competition in the first qualifying round, with a home match against Wingate & Finchley on Saturday, October 29.

East Thurrock begin in the third qualifying round.