For Macclesfield, the cup now carries added intrigue after last season’s eye-catching run. The report says the Silkmen were the leading non-league side in the competition and reached the fourth round proper, a reminder that momentum in the early rounds can quickly turn into a national story.
Other ties reported from the draw include:
That is the appeal of this stage: proven names, awkward away days and clubs sensing a route to wider attention.
The report also says the first qualifying round produced goals and mismatches in classic FA Cup fashion.
Those scorelines are part of what makes qualifying so compelling. There is little caution, plenty of chaos and, very often, a chance for one emphatic result to change the mood of an entire season.
At the top of the pyramid, Manchester City begin the new cup campaign as holders, which gives the whole competition its usual contrast: global heavyweights at one end, long-distance coach trips and community grounds at the other.
The next step is simple. Clubs now have a draw to study and a genuine opportunity to chase. Keep an eye on Macclesfield, on Morecambe, and on which early-round winner can turn one good afternoon into a proper FA Cup run.