As the first throng of cup fixtures head our way, here's an introduction to each of the different competitions played in by our men's side.

For followers of the bigger clubs in England, they will no doubt know of the different competitions that they compete in over the course of a season, with the Premier League and Football League the bread and butter of the campaign.

These are topped up by ventures into domestic competitions such as the FA Cup, EFL Cup or EFL Trophy, and for the lucky few, trips around Europe in the Champions League, Europa League or Conference League.

However, we sometimes get asked by visiting fans, especially those coming for the first time or used to watching professional sides, which competitions we play in, so here is a guide:

National League South

Formerly known as the Conference South, this is the league that the men's side have played in since earning promotion in 2018. This division is at the sixth tier overall of English football, two leagues below the Football League, and five below the Premier League, running parallel with the National League North. Sides play each other home and away during the season.

For the 2022-23 season, there are 24 member clubs, up from 21 last season, with one side automatically promoted as champions, and a second promotion place going to the winners of the playoffs at the end of the season, which involves teams finishing between second and seventh position. The bottom four sides after 46 games will be relegated to the level below. The league is known as the Motorama National League South commercially. So far, our highest finish is 10th, achieved during the 2021-22 season.

FA Cup

Famous across the land, and indeed globally, as it is the oldest national football competition in world football, having first been played during the 1871-72 season. Clubs from the top nine tiers of the English league system are eligible to enter, with some from Level 10 also being added should there be any non-entries from the levels above.

A series of byes based on the level of the league means that lower-ranked sides begin their FA Cup run earlier than those in the professional game. Before Round One, there are two preliminary rounds and a further four qualifying rounds, with 32 non-league sides reaching the proper stages of the competition each season. Should there a be a drawn result after the first meeting, there will be a replay, played at the venue of the away side. Should that match be a draw after normal time, extra time will be played to determine the winner, and if required, a penalty shootout. From the Fifth Round onwards, there are no replays.

The Hamlet, along with the other sides in the National League North and South, enter the competition at the Second Qualifying Round stage, which takes place during September each year. We have reached the First Round on 14 occasions, but as of yet have failed to go further, which is a record for the competition. Since the 1948-49 season, we have only reached the First Round twice, once in 1998, and again in 2019, when we lost 4-1 to Carlisle United, a game that was televised on BBC to the nation. The competition is currently sponsored by Emirates.

FA Trophy

Non-league football's top cup competition, which has been in existence since 1969. Clubs from the top four levels of non-league football are eligible to take part in this competition, with that number currently standing at 320 sides.

Similar to the FA Cup, the competition has a series of qualifying rounds and proper rounds, three and eight respectively. However, unlike the FA Cup, all drawn games are settled immediately via a penalty shootout. The Hamlet enter the competition in the Second Round, which takes place in November, and would need to win seven matches to win the competition.

Our best run in the competition has been reaching the Quarter Finals, in 1979-80 and again in 2016-17. The competition is currently sponsored by Buildbase.

London Senior Cup

The third cup competition we play each year is the County Senior Cup of the London Football Association, which has been in existence since 1882.

The competition is open to sides from the Step Five of the non-league game and above, although the leading professional sides in London no longer choose to take part in it, with the exception of Leyton Orient, AFC Wimbledon, Brentford and Charlton Athletic, who play 'B' teams or Under 23 squads.

We have won this competition on five occasions, in 1924–25, 1938–39, 1949–50, 1983–84 and 2003–04, and have also lost a further six finals. The 2004 final was our last journey to that stage of the competition. Games are also settled on the day of the tie, with no replays being used. This year's competition is sponsored by Veo.