ALTHOUGH midsummer's day was only last week the FA has signalled the beginning of the winter season with the publishing of the draws for the FA Cup, Trophy and Vase.

For some lower status clubs the FA Cup dream will be over before they have even played a league game as the Extra-Preliminary Round of the Cup takes place on August 16 as the first batch of 762 clubs takes the field.

However, Andover will be in Southern League action on that day as they await the result of the Wiltshire derby between Western Leaguers Calne Town and Devizes Town. The Lions have home advantage in the Preliminary Round on August 30 and should they progress would then entertain Southern League Premier Division side Bashley at the Portway on September 13.

Locally, only Amesbury Town are in action on the first day as they have the less than enviable task of a trip to New Milton Town with a home match against Downton or Abingdon Town awaiting the winners. Winchester City are away to Flackwell Heath or Wootton Bassett Town while Thatcham Town travel to Witney United or Buckingham Town on the same day.

In the FA Trophy Preliminary Round, Andover make what has become a very regular trip to Didcot Town on October 4. The winners have a home draw with Gosport Borough and home fans will have a two fold reason to pray for a win at Didcot as Gosport may be include former Lion's favourite Justin Bennett.

Meanwhile New Street have a home tie in the 1st Qualifying Round of the FA Vase as they play either Newport Pagnell Town of the United Counties League or Totton and Eling from their own division in the Wessex League. The winners of that tie are away to Chalfont St Peter in Buckinghamshire, who play in the Spartan South Midland League.

Andover's ever changing list of pre-season friendlies shows little sign of settling down as their have been two more alterations. New Milton can now not use their home pitch on July 19 and so the friendly has now been reversed and will be played at the Portway, kick-off 3pm.

Also, as the game with Dorchester on August 9 was cancelled, the club have arranged to host Romulus FC, who play in the Southern League Division One Midlands. Romulus share Sutton Coldfield's ground and were formed as a children's side in 1979 before moving through Sunday football and into the Midland Combination.

On the league front Andover have formed a reserve side which has been accepted into the Hampshire League 2004 for the new season and will play the likes of Ludgershall, Mottisfont, and Broughton.

Sports editor Kerry Miller

10:38am Wednesday 2nd July 2008

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