The Latics have drawn Gateshead away in the first round of the FA Cup. Gateshead, an ex-Football League team, play in the National League North which is the sixth tier of the football pyramid. The match is due to take place on Saturday 9th November and the prize for winning the tie will be £36,000, not a figure to be sniffed at.
Chichester City received an automatic bye to the second round of the cup due to the demise of Bury as a Football League team. In an amazing gesture they have volunteered to donate some of their first round prize money to help Bury create a Phoenix Team – it's a pity the big boys in the Premier League can't see their way with similar gestures instead of concentrating on their business plans!