WORCESTER City and Worcester Raiders will begin their FA Cup campaign this weekend as they enter the Extra Preliminary Round, the earliest round of the tournament.

City will face West Midlands side Walsall Wood at Claines Lane on Saturday (August 3). 

Wood's FA Cup campaign in 2023/24 lasted just two rounds: a victory against Highgate United in the extra preliminary round replay was followed by a 1-0 defeat to step 5 side Rugby Borough.

City were one of just 14 clubs from step 5 to reach the second qualifying round. A 2-0 loss to Leek Town ended a fantastic cup run with victories against Dudley Town, Westfields and Sherwood Colliery.

It won't be the last time City will face Walsall Wood this season; both sides play in the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands. Walsall will return to Claines on Boxing Day, before City travel to the John Sylvester Stadium on Easter Monday (April 21).

Should City see off Walsall on Saturday, the club will receive £1,125 in prize money and a matchup against either Inkberrow or Dudley Town. 

Worcester Raiders are also in action in the FA Cup this weekend, welcoming Stourport Swifts to Sixfields Stadium on Saturday (August 3). 

Both sides play at step five of non-league football, with Raiders in the Hellenic League, while Stourport play in the Midlands League.

The Swifts made it to the preliminary round of last season's competition, beating Coventry Sphinx 2-0 in the tournament opener, before narrowly losing to Hanley Town in a replay.

The Raiders will be looking to improve on their 2023/24 outing. A 3-2 win against Belper United was followed by a 4-1 defeat against Shropshire-based Shifnal Town.

The Raiders have already faced Stourport this season during pre-season, where the Swifts came out victorious with a 2-0 victory on Saturday, July 6.

A victory for the Raiders would give the Hellenic League side a second home tie, against either Racing Club Warwick or Hednesford Town, as well as £1,125 in prize money.