AFC Emley have a home test in their first-ever FA Cup-tie.

The Welfare Ground club have been paired with Blackburn side Darwen in the preliminary round of the famous old competition.

The tie will be played at Emley on the weekend of August 18, the exact day to be decided in consultation with the cricket club, who use part of the ground.

Darwen are from the same level as AFC, playing in the North West Counties Second Division.

Emley have not featured in the FA Cup since their reformation – the original club, of course, moving to Wakefield. The North East Counties outfit are also at home in the FA Vase, drawing Ramsbottom of the NWC First Division in the first round on September 22.

Emley are starting training tonight and Thursday (from 7pm) at Shelley High School and assistant secretary Richard Hazelden explained they would be happy for potential players to join Nicky Bramald and Ray Dennis’s squad.

“If any lads from the District League or West Riding County Amateur League would like to step up a level then we would be happy for them to come along,” he said.

“Our ambitions in the next three to five years are to move up the football pyramid, but it won’t be done at any cost.

“We are trying to recreate what has been done here at the Welfare Ground in the past, we’ve got planning permission for a bar and plenty of people who are willing to put in some hours to keep things moving forward.

“We don’t want to get over-stretched like some clubs have done, but maybe a return to the UniBond in the next few years is something we can aim for.

“At the moment, stepping up from the District or West Riding to our level isn’t too much of a big jump, so hopefully a few lads will fancy giving it a go and will come along and join us.”

Bramald can be contacted on 07879 680498.

Emley, of course, kick-off pre-season against Town at the Welfare Ground on July 18 in the Adrian Wright Memorial game (7.30).

On July 30 they visit Eccleshill United and then, of August 4, they travel to Bay Athletic. They are at home to Ossett Town on August 7 (7.30).

Hazelden stressed a lot of hard work has already been put in at the club, not least by former Galpharm groundsman Raymond Chappell, who has got the pitch looking superb.