AN aspiring young reporter from Reading played a leading role in the Third Round Qualifying draw of this season’s Emirates FA Cup.
Jacob Potter, 22, joined The FA’s Director of Professional Game Relations, Andy Ambler, and fellow young reporter, Samuel Ogunleye, in conducting the draw at Wembley Stadium, connected by EE.
Potter - who enjoyed work experience at the Reading Chronicle last year - and Samuel are members of The FA’s Young Reporters’ Club, a new initiative which gives young writers the opportunity to report on matches across a variety of FA Competitions, as well as support and mentoring from experienced journalists and industry experts.
Potter said: “Drawing out the teams and having the opportunity to take part in such a high-profile competition in English football is a moment that will stick with me for the rest of my life and will certainly be up there with one of my proudest moments.
"This was an incredible opportunity, one that I will never forget.”
Eighty teams will take part in the Third Qualifying Round of the competition, with ties due to be played across the weekend of 6-7 October.
Following the doubling of the Emirates FA Cup prize fund, winning clubs will now receive £15,000.
Third round qualifying draw:
Workington v Kidsgrove Athletic
Stockport County v Corby Town
Mickleover Sports v Sutton Coldfield Town or Alfreton Town
Kettering Town v Hednesford Town
Nuneaton Borough or Brackley Town v Marine
Peterborough Sports v Chorley
Altrincham v Bradford (Park Avenue)
Dunston UTS v Chester
Stourbridge v Kidderminster Harriers
FC United of Manchester v Witton Albion
Cleethorpes Town or Bamber Bridge v Guiseley
St Neots Town v Buxton or Coalville Town
King’s Lynn Town v Ashton United
Curzon Ashton v Southport
Gainsborough Trinity v Nantwich Town or Blyth Spartans
York City v St Ives Town or Grantham Town
Consett or Warrington Town v AFC Telford United
Tiverton Town v Metropolitan Police or Needham Market
Haringey Borough v Bognor Regis Town or AFC Sudbury
Gloucester City v Dorking Wanderers
Leatherhead v Hanwell Town
Eastbourne Borough v Dulwich Hamlet
Woking v Kempston Rovers
Taunton Town v St Albans City or Corinthian Casuals
Billericay Town v Whitehawk
Hereford or Truro City v Welling United
Hitchin Town or Didcot Town v Hastings United
Concord Rangers v Beaconsfield Town
Hemel Hempstead Town v Ramsgate
Moneyfields v Worthing
Bath City v Kings Langley or Lewes
Slough Town or Sholing v Bristol Manor Farm
Hungerford Town or Wantage Town v Wealdstone
Hampton & Richmond Borough v AFC Hornchurch
Chippenham Town or Swindon Supermarine v Hendon or Phoenix Sports
Egham Town or Brightlingsea Regent v Torquay United
Weston Super Mare or Salisbury v Coggeshall Town
Horsham v Poole Town
Oxford City v Dartford
Winchester City v Cirencester Town
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