The draws for the early rounds of the big four FA competitions have been released - bringing the excitement of the impending season to fever pitch for non-league football clubs across Hertfordshire. 

FA Cup 

The FA Cup begins on Saturday, August 6 with the extra-preliminary round with only one of five teams covered by myself having a home tie. 

That is Colney Heath who will welcome Iford to the Recreation Ground. 

Newly-promoted Stotfold go to new Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division side Stansted, Arlesey Town have another of the SSML new boys in Sawbridgeworth Town with tenants at New Lamb Meadow, Baldock Town, going to Essex Senior League opposition in Little Oakley. 

Harpenden Town also face an Essex side when they go to Stanway Rovers. 

Should Colney Heath win their match, they will have another home game in the preliminary round, with a potential meeting with old manager George Georgiou. 

Their opponents will be the winner of FC Romania, Georgiou's new team, and Tilbury. 

Arlesey will also be at home if they get through, with either Saffron Walden Town or Great Wakering Rovers the visitors, but Harpenden would go to either St Panteleimon or Witham Town, Stotfold would travel to Brightlingsea Regent and Baldock would head to Hadley. 

Welwyn Garden City make their bow in the preliminary round with a game at either Halstead Town or Romford.  

Winners of both rounds will receive a combined total of £2,569 from the prize fund. 

Hitchin Town, Royston Town and Potters Bar Town all enter at the first qualifying stage, scheduled for September 2, while St Albans City join in on September 16 in the second qualifying round. 

Stevenage begin their campaign in round one on November 4. 

FA Cup extra-preliminary round draw (selected) - August 5 

94.Stansted v Stotfold
103.Sawbridgeworth Town v Arlesey Town
104.Stanway Rovers v Harpenden Town
105.Little Oakley v Baldock Town
106.Colney Heath v Ilford 

FA Cup preliminary round draw (selected) - August 19 

5.Hebburn Town v Heaton Stannington or Tow Law Town
63.St Panteleimon or Witham Town v Stanway Rovers or Harpenden Town
65.Brightlingsea Regent v Stansted or Stotfold
73.Halstead Town or Romford v Welwyn Garden City
75.Sawbridgeworth Town or Arlesey Town v Saffron Walden Town or Great Wakering Rovers
76.Hadley v Little Oakley or Baldock Town
77.Colney Heath or Ilford v FC Romania or Tilbury

FA Vase 

The first round qualifying of the FA Vase is on August 26 with the second qualifying round on September 23. 

Letchworth Eagles begin at home to Sawbridgeworth Town of the Essex Senior League while  

Colney Heath travel to White Ensign, based in Great Wakering, while neighbours London Colney are also on the road, heading up to Wellingborough Town. 

Arlesey Town are away too, they go to Desborough Town, but there are byes for both Baldock Town and Harpenden Town. 

The Reds will get going away to either FC Clacton or Tilbury but Harps will get a home tie, Wembley or Long Crendon coming to Rothamsted Park. 

There will be a local derby of sorts should Letchworth win, with Langford the opposition in the second qualifying round, while Colney Heath would be heading east again with Suffolk's Cornard United the destination. 

Arlesey would be at home to Penn & Tylers Green should they progress, as would London Colney with Long Buckby or FC Deportivo Galicia up next. 

FA Vase first qualifying round draw (selected) - August 26 

15.Padiham v Jarrow
88.Letchworth Garden City Eagles v Sawbridgeworth Town
98.White Ensign v Colney Heath
109.Wellingborough Town v London Colney
114.Desborough Town v Arlesey Town

FA Vase second qualifying round draw (selected) - September 23 

13.Esh Winning or Redcar Athletic v Padiham or Jarrow
78.Letchworth Garden City Eagles or Sawbridgeworth Town v Langford
80.FC Clacton or Tilbury v Baldock Town
84.Cornard United v White Ensign or Colney Heath
92.Desborough Town or Arlesey Town v Penn & Tylers Green
94.Wellingborough Town or London Colney v Long Buckby or FC Deportivo Galicia
101.Harpenden Town v Wembley or Long Crendon 

FA Trophy 

Stotfold's first participation in the FA Trophy could see two away games in the opening two rounds. 

They start away to another newly-promoted side in Redbridge and victory over the Isthmian League outfit would take them to either Witham Town or Maldon & Tiptree. 

Welwyn Garden City though would have two home ties. 

They face Basildon United at Herns Lane in the first qualifying round with either Lowestoft Town or New Salamis up next should they win. 

Hitchin Town, Royston Town and Potters Bar Town are again exempt from the first couple of rounds, making their bow in the third round qualifying. 

St Albans City arrive in the competition two rounds later in the second round proper. 

FA Trophy first qualifying round draw (selected) - September 9 

1.Brighouse Town v Hebburn Town
39.Redbridge v Stotfold
43.Welwyn Garden City v Basildon United 

FA Trophy second qualifying round draw (selected) - September 23 

6.Brighouse Town or Hebburn Town v Widnes or Clitheroe
22.Witham Town or Maldon & Tiptree v Redbridge or Stotfold
24.Welwyn Garden City or Basildon United v Lowestoft Town or New Salamis 

FA Youth Cup 

There will be a derby in the extra-preliminary round of the Youth Cup when Arlesey Town travel to Hitchin Town. 

Royston Town meanwhile go to Ampthill Town with the winners of each tie meeting in the preliminary round at either New Lamb Meadow or Top Field. 

Most other clubs arrive in the preliminary round, with most of them at home. 

Letchworth host Newport Pagnell Town, Baldock play Kempston Rovers and Stotfold face St Ives Town. 

Harpenden and Colney Heath are both at home, with Bedford Town and Heybridge Swifts their respective opponents, and WGC complete the home ties against May & Baker Eastbrook Community. 

Only Potters Bar Town are on the road, they go to Barkingside. 

St Albans City begin in the first round qualifying while Stevenage start in the first round proper. 

FA Youth Cup extra-preliminary round draw (selected) - week commencing August 14 

31.Hitchin Town v Arlesey Town
36.Ampthill Town v Royston Town 

FA Youth Cup preliminary round draw (selected) - week commencing September 4 

2.Hebburn Town v Shildon or Billingham Town
57.Letchworth Garden City Eagles v Newport Pagnell Town
59.Baldock Town v Kempston Rovers
60.Stotfold v St Ives Town
64.Hitchin Town or Arlesey Town v Ampthill Town or Royston Town
67.Harpenden Town v Bedford Town
88.Colney Heath v Heybridge Swifts
94.Welwyn Garden City v May & Baker Eastbrook Community
100.Barkingside v Potters Bar Town