FC CLACTON boss Tom Austin says he and his players will relish the challenge after being handed a trip to Kirkley and Pakefield in the extra preliminary round of next season's FA Cup.

The draws for the initial stages were made on Friday and the Seasiders will travel to the Suffolk coast to play their Thurlow Nunn League premier division rivals on Saturday, August 11.

If they progress, they will then play Ware in the preliminary round on August 25, at the Rush Green Bowl.

"We're really looking forward to it," said Austin.

"It'll be tough and they beat us at their place towards the end of last season.

"However, this is a new season with new players and we'd dearly love a cup run next season.

"It's something I'm really targeting - partly for financial reasons but also because it would mean so much to the club, in terms of generating interest and getting people on board."

Each winning club in the extra preliminary round will collect £2,250 from the FA prize fund, while the losers will receive £750.

In the preliminary round the respective figures are £2,890 and £960.

The draw has also been made for the FA Vase.

Clacton have a bye to the second hurdle and will travel to Hoddesdon Town.

"It's a particularly special draw for me as I grew up in Hoddesdon," said Austin, who moved to Essex when he was 15.

"I went to school there and still have family in the area.

"It's going to be a special day and, much like the FA Cup draw, I'd love to think we could have a run in the Vase."