Bye in first qualifying round of Vase

Waltham Forest have been handed a bye in the First Qualifying Round of this season’s FA Vase.

Forest will instead enter the competition at the Second Qualifying Round stage, where they’ll be at home to either Hadleigh United or Debenham Leisure Centre.

Forest have met Hadleigh once before – in a hotly-contested pre-season friendly in August 2011. Antone Douglas, Richard Shittu and Josh Bonnett put FOrest ahead three times in Suffolk, but ended up losing 4-3.

Hadleigh finished 7th in the Premier Division of the Eastern Counties Premier in each of the last two seasons, and won the league in 2013-14, but were not promoted. They have only finished in the lower half of the table once in the last 10 season.s

Debenham LC also ply their trade in the Eastern Counties league, but in Division 1, where they finished 13th last season.

Hadleigh and Debenham have met once before in the FA Vase, in the 1st round of the 2008-9 competition, when Debenham won 1-0.

The tie will take place on Saturday 10 September, with Forest entering the competition on Saturday 24 September.

Should Wadham Lodge beat Wivenhoe Town in their first qualifying round tie, both sides will be at home, and match dates will need to be adjusted.