Chester FC have been drawn away to National League North outfit AFC Telford United in the first round proper of the FA Trophy. The draw was announced at 12.30pm on Monday and the tie will take place on the weekend of December 12. Look back at The Chronicle's live blog on the draw.
Key Events
Goodbye
It’s time to wrap up the live blog. Thanks for sticking with us and we hope you enjoyed the coverage.
To confirm the draw, Chester FC will travel to AFC Telford United in the FA Trophy first round on the weekend of Saturday, December 12.
We’ll have confirmation of the draw, reaction and lots more Blues news on The Chronicle’s website through the afternoon.
Pick of the round?
Let’s be honest, the draw is a little underwhelming from a Chester perspective.
The clash between Tranmere Rovers and Wrexham has got people talking but how about the prospect of a Gloucestershire derby involving Cheltenham Town and Gloucester City, although the latter need to come through a replay.
Draw in full
This is the full draw for the FA Trophy first round:
1 FC Halifax Town v Tamworth
2 Grimsby Town v Solihull Moors
3 Sutton Coldfield Town v Barrow
4 Marine or Kidsgrove Athletic or Burscough v Guiseley
5 Macclesfield Town v Gainsborough Trinity or Ashton United
6 Nantwich Town v Matlock Town
7 Southport v Worcester City
8 Curzon Ashton v Nuneaton Town
9 Altrincham v Leamington
10 AFC Telford United v Chester FC
11 Stourbridge v Kidderminster Harriers
12 Gateshead v Stocksbridge Park Steels
13 AFC Fylde v Chorley or Skelmersdale United
14 Buxton or Bradford Park Avenue v Lincoln City
15 Tranmere Rovers v Wrexham
16 Hayes & Yeading United or Eastbourne Borough v Hemel Hempstead Town
17 Tilbury v Welling United
18 Truro City v Cirencester Town
19 Torquay United v Frome Town or Chesham United
20 Whitehawk v Dover Athletic
21 Grays Athletic or Corinthian Casuals v Hungerford Town
22 Boreham Wood v Woking
23 Concord Rangers v Lowestoft Town
24 Maidstone United v Bognor Regis Town
25 Cheltenham Town v Chelmsford City or Gloucester City
26 Merthyr Town or East Thurrock United v Maidenhead United
27 Oxford City v Ebbsfleet United
28 Aldershot Town v Eastleigh
29 Weston Super Mare v Wealdstone
30 Havant & Waterlooville v Forest Green Rovers
31 Bury Town v Dulwich Hamlet
32 Braintree Town v Bromley
Technical troubles
Apologies for the temporary lull in updates, which was down to a connection issue. Serves us right perhaps for mocking the FA. Gremlins in the system, ghosts in the machine. Perhaps a metaphor...
Deja Vu
It’s a carbon copy of this time 12 months ago as the Blues have been handed a trip to the New Bucks Head at this stage for the second season running.
It was Telford who progressed last time around, albeit on penalties after a replay. Both the initial tie and the second meeting finished 1-1.
Since then, the Bucks have been relegated from non-league’s top flight and have had a tough campaign so far, although there are signs of them turning the corner.
Draw: AFC Telford United v Chester FC
Still there? Chester FC will travel to AFC Telford United in the first round proper of the FA Trophy.
Reason for the delay?
These draws never seem to be released on time. Why is that? Maybe someone at Wembley has misplaced one of the balls? Maybe Greg Dyke has sent the person responsible out to Subway to pick him up a six-inch Italian BMT with extra jalapeños for his lunch? It’s one of life’s great mysteries.
Canvey Island nightmares
Chester’s most memorable campaign in the FA Trophy came during the 2000-01 season. Despite madcap American owner Terry Smith doing his best to run the club down, Graham Barrow managed to take the Blues to the semi-finals thanks to wins over Doncaster Rovers, St Albans City, Blyth Spartans and Southport.
Things went badly wrong however in the two-legged semi-final. Ryman Premier League part-times Canvey won the first leg 2-0 in Essex and followed that up with a 2-0 win at Chester in the second leg. The Essex club went on to beat Forest Green Rovers in the final.
Click here to read more about the game and have a look at a gallery of images too.
Predictions?
So who do you think it’ll be for the Blues? You can tell us on Twitter @ChesterFC_Chron and we’ll see who’s right.
Personally I think we can look forward to a trip to AFC Fylde. Do they still give out bottles of milk because someone nicked two from outside The Chronicle’s head office this morning.
Potential opponents
Let’s have a look at some of possible teams the Blues could face in the first round. As we know the draw is regionalised so that rules out teams in the southern section.
There will be 64 teams in the pot made up of the 40 winners from the third qualifying round, although a lot of ties have still to be settled, and the 24 clubs from the National League, including Chester.
So that means there’s as good a chance as any of drawing Tranmere Rovers or Wrexham. I’m sure Steve Burr will be hoping for a home draw against a team from outside the National League but probably wanting to avoid the top performing clubs from the division below such as AFC Fylde, Nuneaton Town and Solihull Borough.
If we look a bit further down then Matlock Town, Stocksbridge Park Steels and Sutton Coldfield Town would be appealing draws at home.
London Calling? Not this time.
Stockport’s conquerors Nantwich Town have confirmed the first round draw is regionalised. So the Blues won’t be going to Concord Rangers, Dulwich Hamlet or Wealdstone. Shame about the last one, would have been nice to meet the Wealdstone Raider in person. You’ve got no fans!
Anyone but Barrow
We asked The Chronicle’s Dave Powell who he fancied in the first round and it’s hard to disagree with his assessment of that 2013 defeat to the Bluebirds.
Who’s the lowest ranked team in the competition? In all seriousness, anyone but Barrow because I’ve got bad memories of losing to them a couple of seasons ago in what was probably the worst game of football I’ve ever seen in my life.
Holders out before the first round
Remember last season’s final? Of course you do. Wrexham had it in the bag but then imploded as North Ferriby United recorded a stunning comeback win on penalties. It was brilliant.
Well it won’t happen this time around because the Villagers (the Village People would be a much better nickname) lost 2-1 at home to Stocksbridge Park Steels. The FA Trophy can be a cruel mistress.
Money-spinner?
Curzon Ashton made it through to the first round with a 1-0 victory at Harrogate Town and it seems the Tamesiders are dreaming of a trip to Grimsby. Why would anyone dream of a trip to Blundell Park? Maybe it’s the fish and chips.
No chance of a Neil Young reunion
Last season’s FA Cup draw through up a trip to Stockport County but there’ll be no visit to Edgeley Park in this season’s FA Trophy.
Chester’s treble title-winning manager Neil Young watched his Hatters side lose 2-0 at home to Nantwich Town on Saturday in the third qualifying round.
Everything you need to know
Not sure what’s happening this morning? Join the club. But we’ve put together a handy guide to the draw including details of how many teams are in the hat, when ties will take place and how much prize money is up for grabs.
Everything you need to know about the FA Trophy first round draw
Good morning
Welcome to The Chronicle’s live blog on the draw for the FA Trophy first round proper.
Chester FC will discover their opponents in about an hour when the draw, which is taking place at Wembley this morning, is announced in full.
In the meantime, we’ll be looking at some potential opponents, past FA Trophy campaigns and a few other bits and pieces.
Once the draw is known, we’ll bring you reaction and have a look at the tie in closer detail.
Let us know who you would like or share your thoughts on anything else Blues related via our Twitter account @ChesterFC_Chron.