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