Essex non-league football is getting back underway for the new 2024/25 season, and Rayleigh Town’s Gary Brooks claims his club are “thrilled” to be involved in the BBC Essex Senior Cup First and Second Round Draws for the first ever time.

The pairings were broadcast this evening (Friday 30th August) and Town’s debut in the competition will see them make the short journey to Southend Manor for a huge derby game in the First Round, with the winners hosting Wivenhoe Town or Holland in Round Two. The newly-inaugurated senior status club hope to progress through to the eventual Round Three, when teams from the Isthmian League and above are introduced, including the holders, Redbridge.

Speaking ahead of the draws, Brooks explained: “We’re thrilled that we’ve actually got to this level now of the Essex cups - the top level. It’s been a long time coming. We’ve been around for a long, long time and we’re thrilled to be part of it, we really are.”

He claims they have to pinch themselves that they could, potentially, progress through to play a competitive game against some of Essex’s big professional clubs: “Like the FA Cup, and I’ve been thinking about this, Round Three is the one that everybody wants to get to. That’s when all the big Essex boys come in. We’d love to progress to Round Three and get to meet one of the big boys. That would be fantastic for a little club like us, it really would. Never say never!”

Rayleigh won the BBC Essex Saturday Premier Cup last season, and Gary says the Senior Cup now sits high in the club’s priorities for the new campaign: “The Essex cups all have a special place in our heart. I say Round Three would be brilliant but, of course, we want to go as far as we can. Underdogs have done things before, and we really would be an underdog in this situation. It’s important we do well. It’s important.”

BBC Essex’s Victoria Polley and Josh Owootomo from the Essex County FA were responsible for the home and away clubs respectively during the draw proceedings. All First Round ties are due to take place during the week beginning 30th September, while the Second Round matches will be played during the week of 14th October.

All the BBC Essex Senior Cup information you need to know can be found in the menus above, by following @EssexCountyFA on X and by searching for the ‘EssexFootball’ page on Facebook.

BBC Essex Senior Cup First Round (week beginning 30th September)

Buckhurst Hill vs Cannons Wood
Benfleet vs FC Clacton
West Essex vs Hullbridge Sports
Clapton Community vs Harwich & Parkeston
Halstead Town vs Newbury Forest
Barkingside vs Romford
Harlow Town vs Hutton
Takeley vs Basildon Town
Saffron Walden Town vs Stanway Pegasus
Frenford vs Great Wakering Rovers
Little Oakley vs Athletic Newham
Ilford vs Stanway Rovers
Wivenhoe Town vs Holland
Stansted vs May & Baker Eastbrook Community
White Ensign vs Barking
Southend Manor vs Rayleigh Town
Coggeshall Town vs Woodford Town
Dunmow Town vs Burnham Ramblers

BBC Essex Senior Cup Second Round (week beginning 14th October)

Halstead Town or Newbury Forest vs Dunmow Town or Burnham Ramblers
Clapton Community or Harwich & Parkeston vs Benfleet or FC Clacton
White Ensign or Barking vs Buckhurst Hill or Cannons Wood
Takeley or Basildon Town vs Stansted or May & Baker Eastbrook Community
Coggeshall Town or Woodford Town vs Ilford or Stanway Rovers
Harlow Town or Hutton vs West Essex or Hullbridge Sports
Saffron Walden Town or Stanway Pegasus vs Frenford or Great Wakering Rovers
Southend Manor or Rayleigh Town vs Wivenhoe Town or Holland
Little Oakley or Athletic Newham vs Barkingside or Romford