After winning the trophy by beating Cammell Laird 2-1 in dramatic style in May, Heys received a bye in the 1st round of an enlarged competition, bolstered by the influx of seventeen new clubs to create the regionalised Division One North and South divisions.

Unlike last season, this year’s tournament is not regionalised, and all ties will be played on a Saturday.

Barnton were relegated from the Premier Division last season and will be looking to bounce back in Division One South under new Manager Jason McShane.

The draw for the opening rounds is:

First Round Draw (to be played 8th September)
Atherton LR v Cheadle Town
AFC Darwen v Carlisle City
Holker Old Boys v Garstang
Sandbach United v New Mills
Nelson v St Martins
Alsager Town v Daisy Hill
Wythenshawe Town v AFC Blackpool
Stone Old Alleynians v Shelley

Second Round Draw (to be played 6th October)
Eccleshall v Nelson or St Martins
Sandbach United or New Mills v Atherton LR or Cheadle Town
Avro v Stone Dominoes
Ellesmere Rangers v Stone Old Alleynians or Shelley
Chadderton v Alsager Town or Daisy Hill
Maine Road v FC Oswestry Town
Abbey Hulton United v Rylands
Wythenshawe Town or AFC Blackpool v Stockport Town
Cheadle Heath Nomads v St Helens Town
Vauxhall Motors v Cammell Laird 1907
AFC Liverpool v Cleator Moor Celtic
Lower Breck v AFC Darwen or Carlisle City
Longridge Town v Holker Old Boys or Garstang
Prestwich Heys v Barnton
Steeton v Bacup Borough
Ashton Town v Wythenshawe Amateurs

Meanwhile, in the Macron League Cup, Heys will come up against familiar opposition having been drawn away to Whitchurch Alport in the opening round.

The two sides have been promotion rivals for the past two seasons, with Alport making the step up to the Premier Division with a Play Off Final win over Cammell Laird last season.

The teams will lock horns again in the opening round on 20th October. The winners will then host either Cleator Moor Celtic or Winsford United in the 2nd round on 10th November.

First Round Draw
01 Chadderton v 1874 Northwich
02 City of Liverpool v Ashton Athletic
03 St Helens Town v Cheadle Town
04 St Martins v Cammell Laird 1907
05 Barnton v Congleton Town
06 Bootle v Vauxhall Motors
07 Stone Dominoes v Ashton Town
08 Irlam v Abbey Hulton United
09 FC Oswestry Town v West Didsbury & Chorlton
10 Stockport Town v Ellesmere Rangers
11 Sandbach United v AFC Liverpool
12 Whitchurch Alport v Prestwich Heys
13 Rylands v Carlisle City
14 Stone Old Alleynians v AFC Blackpool
15 Bacup Borough v Avro
16 Charnock Richard v Runcorn Town
17 Padiham v Shelley
18 Abbey Hey v Daisy Hill
19 Nelson v Hanley Town
20 Burscough v New Mills
21 Northwich Vics v Alsager Town
22 Maine Road v Steeton
23 Longridge Town v Squires Gate
24 Silsden v Garstang
25 Cleator Moor Celtic v Winsford United
26 Cheadle Heath Nomads v Litherland REMYCA
27 Holker Old Boys v Lower Breck
28 Eccleshall v AFC Darwen

Byes: Wythenshawe Amateurs, Atherton LR, Barnoldswick Town, Wythenshawe Town