Magic of FA Cup returns for another season

It’s FA Cup Day!

Just 76 days after Crystal Palace lifted the FA Cup, the competition starts again with the extra preliminary round.

Over the weekend, 223 games will be played across the country.

And it started across five grounds last night, with Northern Counties East League Premier Division side Pickering Town beating Northern Football League Division One Penrith FC 3-2 to meet Easington Colliery or Boro Rangers in the preliminary round in a fortnight.

Bootle FC joined them with a 4-0 win over 1874 Northwich FC, Sutton Coldfield Town won 2-0 at Stone Old Alleynians FC, Belper United beat Uttoxeter Town 2-1, while Enfield and Wormley Rovers must go again on Tuesday night after their goalless draw. 

There are a further 213 games across the country today and five more on Sunday afternoon; Atherton Collieries gained a walkover over Farsley Celtic to make up the numbers for the next round.

And for the winners, as well as a place in the preliminary round, is the £1125 prize money, which increases by £319 for teams who reach the first qualifying round due to be played at the end of the month.

This is the first time Horden Community Welfare have played in the FA Cup under the club’s new name.

Horden Colliery Welfare’s former players include Colin Bell, who went on to play for Manchester City.

They reached the FA Cup second round in 1938 and, 43 years later, lost 1-0 to then Third Division Blackpool in a first round home game switched to Hartlepool’s Victoria Park.

It was formed under the new moniker eight years ago after the original Horden Athletic Welfare club left the Northern League.

Last season, ‘The Marras’ won promotion to the Northern League first division under manager Jonny Payne, who was captain when the club folded.

They travel to Northern Premier League newcomers Blyth Town, who claimed their first-ever promotion into the fourth tier with a Northern League Division One play-off final win against Newcastle Blue Star in May.

Jonny, who has been in charge for more than 300 games, said: “It’s the first time we have been back in the FA Cup since the club reformed, and that makes it a huge game for us. 

“It means so much to this club, the town and the supporters to be back in the FA Cup.

“It’s a landmark for me, I haven’t managed in the FA Cup before, so it’s a big occasion and I’m really looking forward to it.

“I was captain when we folded and I was about 34 at the time, playing quite well and when the chair Chris Cain asked to take over as manager I thought it wasn’t for me, but I loved playing for the club and the supporters, so I thought why not?

“We’ve had our ups and downs,but to win promotion last year was a massive achievement. And that was always the aim. Now it’s a question of how far can we go.

“I haven’t got my coaching badges, and I don’t intend to. For me, it’s about building a team of lads who will run through a brick wall for you and the team. That’s all the supporters want, all I want. That showed all season and if we hadn’t gone up it would have killed me.

“We know it’s a tough game, Blyth have plenty of quality and I know the manager quite well. He’s very competitive and wants to win every game - but so do I.

“If there’s one thing in our favour, this is their first competitive game. I know they came to see our game against West Allotment Celtic in the week - toe-to-toe, a real ding-dong. I bet they loved it.” 

There are 36 teams across the North East, Cumbria and North and West Yorkshire joining and 11 teams who are playing at this stage of the FA Cup for the first time, including Horden.

Also on the list are Horbury Town, from Wakefield, who won promotion to the Northern Counties East League, and their opponents Wombwell Town, who were formed by former Barnsley players Karl Rose and Doug O'Connor to provide amateur football for adults in the area.

The extra preliminary round also recognises old and new clubs, significant achievements and community engagement.

Some, such as Clay Cross Town, in Derbyshire, who first entered the competition more than a century ago, have reformed, and Nuneaton Town, who folded as Nuneaton Borough last year, and Windsor & Eton, reformed 14 years ago as a Community Interest Company.

Abbey Hulton United, who travel to Boldmere St Michaels, are one of the oldest clubs in Staffordshire while Coton Green from Tamworth, Droitwich Spa and Sidmouth Town have been established for more than 40 years.

Sussex-based Forest Row (Three Bridges) of the Southern Combination Football League Premier Division were formed in 1892, four years earlier than Moulton from Northamptonshire, who face a long trip to Rossington Main. 

There’s the imaginatively titled Faversham Strike Force, a well-known youth set-up in Kent, as well as a registered charity and three-star England-accredited club with more than 40 teams, and on Merseyside, Euxton Villa, the breeding ground for England internationals David Unsworth and Sam Johnstone, who make the short trip to FC City of Liverpool.

Among the youngest clubs are AFC Welwyn (Herts) in the FA Cup, who won promotion in their inaugural step seven campaign two years ago and then the Spartan South Midlands League to reach step five.

FA Cup ties North 

Redcar Athletic v North Ferriby

Bishop Auckland v Whickham

Blyth Town v Horden Community Welfare

West Allotment Celtic v Northallerton Town

Thornaby v Tadcaster Albion

Pickering Town v Penrith

Garforth Town v West Auckland Town

Easington Colliery v Boro Rangers

Marske United v Carlisle City

Newcastle Benfield v Pontefract Collieries

North Shields v Newcastle Blue Star

Knaresborough Town v Bridlington Town

Shildon v Ashington

Birtley Town v Beverley Town

Guisborough Town v Consett

Whitley Bay v Heaton Stannington 

Crook Town v Kendal Town

Brighouse Town v Ossett United

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