FA Cup & Trophy Draws 2023/24

Rugby Town have been drawn at home to Malvern Town in the Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round.

The tie will be the first competitive game of the season ahead of the new NPL Midland Division campaign which starts a week later.

Worcestershire-based Malvern, like Rugby, were promoted last season and are set to lineup in the the Southern League Division One South this season.

It will be the first competitive meeting between Malvern and Rugby since the 1982/83 season in the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division.

Last season Rugby had a decent FA Cup campaign, winning three ties to make it to the Second Qualifying Round before bowing out at Southern League Premier Central side Basford United.

Although promotion was gained to the Northern Premier League last season, promoted teams still have to enter in the opening Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup.

Entry into the Northern Premier League does mean that Rugby will compete in the higher-tiered FA Trophy competition instead of the FA Vase.

Rugby have been drawn against Grantham Town in the First Qualifying Round of the Isuzu FA Trophy.

Last season Valley prevailed over Grantham in the FA Cup after a replay.

FA Cup

The best run in recent years was ten years ago when Rugby reached as far as the Third Qualifying Round before existing to then-National League North side Worcester City in 2013.

Valley last reached the FA Cup First Round proper back in 1993-4 nearly 28 years ago while Rugby's best FA Cup record came in 1987-88 and 1992-93 when they reached the Second Round Proper.

This year's Extra Preliminary Round tie will be played at Butlin Road on Saturday 5th August 2023. If the match is drawn after 90 minutes there will be a replay at Malvern, most likely on Tuesday 8th August.

The winners of the tie will host either Romulus or Newcastle Town in the Preliminary Round on Saturday 19th August 2023.

FA Trophy

Valley have been competing in the FA Vase for the last five campaigns since being relegated in 2017 but will now instead play in the FA Trophy which features teams from the National League Premier (Step 1 of non-league pyramid) down to Rugby's league and equivalent (Step 4).

The match against Grantham will be placed on Saturday 9 September 2023 with the game to be determined by a penalty shootout with no extra time and no replay.

The winners of the tie will travel to either Sutton Coldfield Town or Boldmere St Michaels in the Second Qualifying Round on Saturday 23rd September 2023.