FA Cup 3rd-round draw: Holder United hosts Jaap Stam's Reading

The third round of the FA Cup - traditionally played over the first weekend of the new year - gives minnows the opportunity to travel to stadiums such as Old Trafford, the Emirates, or if they're unlucky, FC Halifax Town's dilapidated Shay ground.

Since the extra preliminary round back in August, 736 teams have been whittled down to 72 for one of the most eagerly anticipated dates in the country's football calendar in early January.

With the third round now drawn, a standout tie involves former Old Trafford favourite Jaap Stam returning to Manchester United with his Reading squad, which is flying high in third place in the Championship.

Elsewhere, there's an all-Premier League clash in Manchester City's trip to West Ham United, while Liverpool welcomes either Newport County or Plymouth Argyle to Anfield, both of whom ply their trade in the fourth tier.

The money won through progression and gate receipts in the FA Cup saves the existence of numerous clubs each year, and there are still plenty of representatives left from the lower echelons of English football.

Here is the draw in full:

Ipswich Town vs. Lincoln City/Oldham Athletic

Barrow vs. Rochdale

Manchester United vs. Reading

Hull City vs. Swansea City

Sunderland vs. Burnley

Queens Park Rangers vs. Blackburn Rovers

Millwall vs. Bournemouth

West Ham United vs. Manchester City

Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Milton Keynes Dons/Charlton Athletic

Blackpool vs. Barnsley

Wigan Athletic vs. Nottingham Forest

Birmingham City vs. Newcastle United

Chelsea vs. Peterborough United/Notts County

Middlesbrough vs. Sheffield Wednesday

West Bromwich Albion vs. Derby County

Everton vs. Leicester City

Liverpool vs. Newport County/Plymouth Argyle

Wycombe Wanderers vs. Stourbridge/Northampton Town

Watford vs. Burton Albion

Preston North End vs. Arsenal

Cardiff City vs. Fulham

Stoke City vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

Cambridge United vs. Leeds United

Bristol City vs. Fleetwood Town/Shrewsbury Town

Huddersfield Town vs. Port Vale

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Aston Villa

Brentford vs. FC Halifax Town/Eastleigh

Bolton Wanderers vs. Crystal Palace

Norwich City vs. Southampton

Sutton United vs. AFC Wimbledon

Accrington Stanley vs. Luton Town

Rotherham United vs. Oxford United/Macclesfield Town

The matches will be played over the weekend of Jan. 6-9, 2017.