The countdown to the most eagerly-awaited football match for years has already begun just a day after Ebbsfleet United were drawn against arch-rivals Dartford in the next round of the FA Cup.

The mouth-watering derby clash takes place on Saturday October 26 with a place in the 1st round proper and bragging rights for years to come at stake.

Incredibly, though, it is the 11th time the two clubs have faced each other in the world's oldest knock-out competition. Fleet have won five of those matches and Darts three.

Fleet manager Steve Brown said: "I had a wry smile when Dartford came out. It’s a juicy one for the media and the supporters.

"It’s a much more favourable draw for us than it is for Tony [Burman, Dartford manager]. Tony will think that’s about as bad as it could get, away from home, against your local rivals, who are in good form."

Darts' boss Tony Burman responded: "It's typical. That's what happens in the FA Cup. It was inevitable that might happen, but it's a fantastic tie. I don't think it's a banana-skin because they're favourites to come up out of Conference South. Steve Brown's assembled a good squad, with players who've played in the League and in Conference Premier."

Kent Police's specialist soccer team has already held discussion with Fleet about security arrangements for the game.