GREAT Harwood Town are one of 24 clubs whose entry for next season's FA Cup has not been accepted.

Showground chairman Bill Holden said the reason was that the club had failed to attend a disciplinary hearing in London, following an appeal by Marine over an expenses dispute.

"It had all been sorted out with the Marine secretary but he failed to tell his chairman in time and the club appealed to the FA," said Mr Holden.

"We were summoned to a hearing in London but had already settled the matter so didn't see any point in going.

"But then we were told that as we had not attended we had been left out of the FA Cup for this season. It was just a misunderstanding really.

"We have been accepted into the FA Vase and will re-enter the FA Cup the following season."

Accrington Stanley play their first FA Cup tie of the new season on Saturday, August 21, when they are at home to Peterlee Newtown in the preliminary round.

If they win through, they will have to travel to Thackley or Consett in the first qualifying round.

All seven of our local non-League sides who have entered the competition are also involved at the initial stage.

In the FA Trophy, Chorley are at home to Moor Green in the first round on October 9, while Stanley must travel to Leek Town. Clitheroe and Great Harwood are exempt until the second round proper of the FA Vase.

Details of the draws are:

FA Cup preliminary round: Atherton Collieries v Ramsbottom, Accrington Stanley v Peterlee, Rossendale v Chadderton, Ashton United v Clitheroe, Denaby v Chorley, Darwen v Billingham Synthonia, Bacup Borough v Sheffield.

First qualifying round (Sept 4): Rossendale or Chadderton v Brandon United or Osset Town, Thackley or Consett v Stanley or Peterlee, Atherton Colls or Ramsbottom v Billingham Town or Fleetwood, Ashton United or Clitheroe v Flixton or Northallerton, Denaby or Chorley v Seaham Red Star or West Auckland Town, Bacup or Sheffield v Brodsworth or South Shields, Easington Colliery or Newcastle Blue Star v Darwen or Billingham Syn.

FA Vase first round qualifying (Sept 11): Nelson v Skelmersdale United, Denaby v Bacup.

Second round qualifying (Sept 25): Worsbrough Bridge or Shotton Comrades v Nelson or Skelmersdale, Peterlee Newtown v Darwen, Rossendale United v Curzon Ashton, Washington IH v Ramsbottom, Easington Colliery or Brandon United v Denaby or Bacup.

In the FA Youth Cup, Blackburn Rovers are exempt until the third round proper, Burnley until the first round proper.

Clitheroe will visit Selby Town in the first round qualifying. If they win they will be away again to either Blackpool Mechanics or Doncaster Rovers. Lancashire have a bye in the first round of the FA County Youth Cup and entertain Staffordshire in the second round.

Stanley's UniBond Division One league campaign begins on Saturday, August 14 with a tough-looking away trip to Lincoln United (k.o. 3pm), and other early fixtures include - Tuesday, August 17: v Trafford FC (h), k.o. 7.30pm; Saturday, August 21: FA Cup preliminary round v Peterlee New Town (a), k.o. 3pm.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.