THE opening rounds of the FA Cup draw has thrown up an intriguing battle for last season's memory-makers Harrogate Railway.

The Station Viewers reached the second round proper of the competition last year before bowing out to Bristol City in front of the Sky TV cameras.

However, a lot has happened at the Northern Counties East League premier division club since then, including the departure of a number of the squad as well as the management duo of Paul Marshall and Mick Margis - to be replaced by Dave Harrison and John Francis.

And the new pair's first test in this competition, on September 13, will see them travel to either Rossendale or Goole - the club which Rail stars Steve Davey and Nigel Danby have been rumoured to be joining.

That tie will come in the first qualifying round after Rail's scheduled preliminary round opponents, Hatfield Main, resigned from the competition.

Pickering Town will have to qualify through the extra preliminary round after being drawn away to Brodsworth, with Whitley Bay in the preliminary round.

Selby and Tadcaster Albion are both at home in the preliminary round, taking on Washington and Winsford respectively.

In the FA Vase, Tadcaster Albion are away to Norton/Strockton in the first qualifying round, with a potential tie against Esh Winning in the following round.

Selby Town take on Winsford in the second qualifying round, while Harrogate Railway entertain Jarrow.

The Robins have lined up a number of big name pre-season friendlies as they look to hit the ground running for the new NCEL campaign.

Selby, who suffered a devastatingly slow start to last season, have lined up two League sides, one Conference outfit and two lower league rivals in an action-packed run-in.

Scarborough are the first visitors to Flaxley Road next Wednesday, July 16, with York City making their annual trip down the A19 five days later.

On Wednesday, July 23, Mansfield will take on Selby, while Bob Lyons' outfit follow this with a clash against Salford City (August 2) and Pontefract (August 6).

Harrogate Town will face two Premiership sides in the pre-season schedule with a Manchester City XI (July 22) and a Leeds United XI (August 12) both set to play at Wetherby Road.

However, John Reed's all stars - boosted by the acquisitions of Mark Atkins and Glenn Naylor - will first kick-off against Hull City tonight, while Nottingham Forest will be the big-name attraction on August 5.

Also on the schedule for Town are trips to Ossett Albion (July 29) and neighbours Harrogate Railway (August 9) and a home tie against Accrington Stanley (August 2).

As well as their annual fixture against Town, Railway will take on Farsley Celtic (July 19) and Eccleshill (July 26) at Station View, while travelling to Crook Town (August 2).

Pickering Town have planned four warm-up fixtures, with a trip to Leeper Hare York and District League outfit Pocklington on July 17 opening up proceedings.

They will entertain former player Alex Mathie's Spennymoor on July 29, York City on August 4 and finally Garforth on August 12.

Meanwhile, the Pikes have lost the services of trainer/physio Clive Reynolds, who is moving to live in Flamborough.

Updated: 09:45 Friday, July 11, 2003