THE draws for the early stages of the FA Cup and FA Trophy have been made with eight Cornish clubs involved.

The FA Cup is the oldest knockout competition in the world and Newquay will experience it for the first time when they welcome Western League Premier Division rivals Shepton Mallet to Mount Wise on Saturday, August 2, a day which will see 223 Extra Preliminary Round ties played across the country.

There are two local derbies at stake involving Cornish sides.

Relegated Helston Athletic go to neighbours Falmouth Town having both been in Southern League Division One South last season, while Western League Premier Division outfits Saltash United and Torpoint Athletic collide at the Ashes’ Kimberley Stadium.

Elsewhere in the competition, St Austell face a tough task at Falmouth’s league rivals Tavistock, while Mousehole welcome Bridgwater United to Trungle Parc and St Blazey host Western League rivals Buckland Athletic who are now managed by former Saltash and Helston boss Matt Cusack.

FA Cup Preliminary Round draw for August 16: Exmouth Town v St Blazey/Buckland Athletic; Sidmouth Town/Ivybridge Town v Saltash United/Torpoint Athletic; Willand Rovers/Barnstaple Town v Tavistock/St Austell; Frome Town v Newquay/Shepton Mallet; Falmouth Town/Helston Athletic v Bideford/Wellington; Street/Brixham v Mousehole/Bridgwater United.

The FA Trophy for clubs at Step Four and above has two Cornish entrants in Southern League Division One South sides Falmouth Town and Mousehole.

Falmouth are involved in one of 16 Preliminary Round clashes as they visit league rivals Westbury United on Saturday, August 23 for the right to face Western League Premier Division play-off winners Brixham.

The F-Troop will need to win 11 matches to reach the final at Wembley on Sunday, May 17, while Mousehole start in the First Qualifying Round when they go to North Devon outfit Bideford on September 6.