The draws for the first two rounds of The FA’s knock-out competitions will be released on Friday, 7th June, but in the case of one of them, we won’t be finding out who Romford will be playing for some time.

Success in the FA Vase that took Romford as far as the Fourth Round last season, and a trip to the Channel Islands to play Jersey Bulls, means that Boro will be exempt until the Second Round Proper this season on Saturday 11th November 2023. No other Essex Senior League clubs have been exempted to that stage, although Athletic Newham and Sporting Bengal United do not enter the competition until the First Round Proper, reward for having reached the Third Round last season.

As is the case for all Step 5 clubs, Romford will enter the FA Cup at the earliest stage, the Extra-Preliminary Round, which will be played on Saturday 5th August 2023.

Ninety-five Step 4 Clubs are not exempt to the FA Cup Preliminary Round and will play in the Extra Preliminary Round. These are 28 promoted Clubs from Step 5 and the 67 lowest ranked Step 4 Clubs not relegated, based on their points per game (PPG) from the 2022-2023 season. Of local interest, these 95 clubs include last season’s ESL Champions, Enfield, and runners-up Redbridge, and Isthmian North League sides Basildon United, Bury Town, East Thurrock United, Gorleston, Maldon & Tiptree, New Salamis, Witham Town, and Wroxham, plus some other relatively local sides, including Hertford Town and Waltham Abbey. Harlow Town, our opponents in the weekend’s opening friendly, are not among the seven Step 6 clubs who have been given places in the FA Cup this season.

The FA Youth Cup Extra-Preliminary Round will be played during the week commencing Monday 14th August 2023.

FA Cup Prize Money:
Extra Preliminary Round winners (208) £1,125
Extra Preliminary Round losers (208) £375
Preliminary Round winners (136) £1,444
Preliminary Round losers (136) £481
First Round Qualifying winners (112) £2,250
First Round Qualifying losers (112) £750
Second Round Qualifying winners (80) £3,375
Second Round Qualifying losers (80) £1,125
Third Round Qualifying winners (40) £5,625
Third Round Qualifying losers (40) £1,875
Fourth Round Qualifying winners (32) £9,375
Fourth Round Qualifying losers (32) £3,125
First Round Proper winners (40) £41,000
Second Round Proper winners (20) £67,000
Third Round Proper winners (32) £105,000
Fourth Round Proper winners (16) £120,000
Fifth Round Proper winners (8) £225,000
Quarter Final winners (4) £450,000
Semi Final losers (2) £500,000
Semi Final winners (2) £1,000,000
Final runners-up (1) £1,000,000
Final winners (1) £2,000,000

FA Vase Prize Money:
First Round Qualifying winners £550 losers £160
Second Round Qualifying winners £725 losers £225
First Round Proper winners £825 losers £250
Second Round Proper winners £900 losers £275
Third Round Proper winners £1125 losers £350
Fourth Round Proper winners £1875 losers £600
Fifth Round Proper winners £2250 losers £725
Quarter Final winners £4125 losers £1350
Semi Final winners £5500 losers £1725
Final winners £30000 losers £15000