Hassocks will take on Southern Combination League Premier Division rivals Langney Wanderers in the extra preliminary round of the 2019-20 Emirates FA Cup.
In the Buildbase FA Vase, the Robins will enter the competition at the first qualifying round stage with a trip to Southern Counties East Division One side Meridian Valley Park. It will be the first ever meeting between the two clubs.
Meridian were founded in 1995 and play at the Meridian Sports & Social Club in Charlton. As a result, this will be Hassocks’ first trip to a club outside of Sussex in one of the national cup competitions since visiting Chessington & Hook in the Vase in 2013.
Meridian came bottom of their league last season but they received a relegation reprieve and they’ve introduced a new management structure for the coming campaign.
Boss Dwinder Tamna has stated that his aims for this year are a top three finish and a good run in the Vase, suggesting the Robins can expect to face a tough test in south east London.
The tie will take place over the weekend of August 31st. The winners will go onto face what would be a more familiar foe for Hassocks in the second qualifying round with a home game against either Lingfield or Horley Town lying in wait.
The FA Cup draw meanwhile means that the Robins and Langney Wanderers will face each other at least four times in the 2019-20 season.
There will be two Premier Division meetings, this latest fixture plus a clash in the Peter Bentley League Cup after the sides were paired together in the second round draw which took place last week. Like the FA Cup game, that one also takes place at the Beacon.
Before Langney’s debut campaign in the Premier Division last season, they were another side that the Robins had never faced before in a competitive fixture.
Those first two meetings were full of entertainment. Jordan Badger’s last minute equaliser saw Hassocks come from 2-0 behind to draw 2-2 at Priory Lane while Langney netted a later leveller of their own at the Beacon through Tyler Capon’s stunning 83rd minute strike to rescue a point at the Beacon.
Langney’s FA Cup visit to Mid Sussex will take place on Saturday 10th August with a 3pm kick off. The winners face a trip to Isthmian League South Central Division club Chipstead in the Preliminary Qualifying Round.
