The draw was made at the League’s AGM on Saturday 20th June with teams from across all three divisions placed in geographical groups, with Heys in Group C.

Trafford were relegated from the Northern Premier League Division One West last season and will line up in the Premier Division of the Counties with Heys, with their meetings set to be the first time they will have ever have played each other. No date has been fixed for the Cup tie as yet.

The full draw for the opening round of the competition is as follows:

GROUP A
1. Squires Gate vs. Exuton Villa
2. Fulwood Amateurs vs. Colne
3. Bacup Borough vs. Thornton Cleveleys
4. Steeton vs. Nelson
5. Barnoldswick Town vs. AFC Blackpool
6. Charnock Richard vs. Longridge Town
7. Holker Old Boys vs. Garstang
Darwen FC receive a bye.

GROUP B
1. MSB Woolton vs. Ashville
2. Halewood Apollo vs. Ashton Town
3. Litherland REMYCA vs. Ashton Athletic
4. FC Isle of Man vs. Widnes Town
5. South Liverpool vs. FC St Helens
6. Maghull vs. AFC Knowsley
7. Burscough vs. Cammell Laird 1907
AFC Liverpool receive a bye.

GROUP C
1. Daisy Hill vs. Barnton
2. Abbey Hey vs. Atherton LR
3. Ramsbottom United vs. Cheadle Heath Nomads
4. Flixton vs. Uppermill
5. Irlam vs. Glossop North End
6. New Mills vs. Maine Road
7. Droylsden vs. Chadderton
8. Prestwich Heys vs. Trafford

GROUP D
1. Market Drayton Town vs. Allscott Heath
2. Wednesfield Community vs. Dawley Town
3. Stafford Town vs. Bilston Town
4. Foley Meir vs. Wolverhampton Casuals
5. Crewe vs. Brereton Social
6. Telford Town vs. AFC Bridgnorth
7. Eccleshall vs. Shawbury United
8. Sandbach United vs. Alsager Town

Fixtures for the NW League season itself are expected in early July, with an initial batch of August fixtures followed, as is usual, later by the full fixture list. The season itself starts on Saturday 1st August.

Meanwhile, Heys have applied for the FA Cup and FA Vase and Friday 26 June 2026, will see the release of the List of Clubs accepted into each Competition, along with the list of Clubs to receive exemption into later rounds.

On Friday 3 July 2026, the draws for The Emirates FA Cup – Extra Preliminary Round & Preliminary Round and FA Vase – First Round Qualifying & Second Round Qualifying will be announced.