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FA Cup first-round draw: Altrincham, Bury and 78 others learn their opponents

The FA Cup first-round draw pairs 48 EFL sides with 32 non-league clubs, including ninth-tier Tadley Calleva and history-makers AFC Rushden & Diamonds, who stunned Morecambe to reach this stage for the first time.

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FA Cup first-round draw: Altrincham, Bury and 78 others learn their opponents
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The FA Cup first-round draw has taken place, with all 80 competing clubs — 48 from League One and League Two plus 32 non-league sides — discovering their opponents for the first round proper.

Manchester-based clubs Altrincham and Bury are among those who learned their fate, alongside higher-profile EFL names such as Leicester City, Wigan Athletic, Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield Town.

Several non-league clubs arrive at this stage with compelling stories. AFC Rushden & Diamonds, formed just 15 years ago following the collapse of the original Rushden & Diamonds, reached the first round proper for the first time in their history after beating National League side Morecambe 2-1 in the fourth qualifying round. Berkhamsted, Sholing and Plymouth Parkway will also make their first-ever appearances at this stage of the competition.

At the foot of the draw, ninth-tier Tadley Calleva remain the lowest-ranked side in the competition after earning a replay against National League outfit Aldershot Town with a 2-2 draw, keeping their FA Cup run alive heading into the first round.

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