In a shocking return to football, a former Liverpool spectacular ace has officially signed with Barnsley

FA Cup first round draw: Horsham off to Barnsley; Worthing and Crawley Town also discover their fate

The draw for the first round proper of the FA Cup has been made – and the three Sussex sides involved now know who awaits them. And one of our non-league clubs can look forward to a big awayday to a Lea

The draw was made – and shown live on ITV – by former Cup winner Paul Parker and Jobi McAnuff on Sunday afternoon and no-one was anticipating it more keenly than Worthing and Horsham fans.

Worthing on the way to beating Bath City | Picture: Mike Gunn

The Rebels have made the first round after many years of hard luck stories and one or two near misses, while Dom Di Paola has led the Hornets to this stage for the seocnd time in three years – his Isthmian premier side having lost at Carlisle in the first round in 2021.

gue One – and former Premier League – club.

Worthing were given a rather disappointing draw away to Alfreton Town of National League North. So that’s not the glamour tie they’d have wanted against a League One or Two side but against a team from the same level as them, they will believe they have a chance of getting through.

But there was great news for Horsham – they will go to Barnsley, who play in League One and were briefly a Premier League club a quarter of a century ago. The Hornets are sure to take a huge number of fans to Oakwell.