GET SET FOR BATTLE OF THE HEATHS
Just nine days after the last Extra Preliminary Round tie was completed, 318 clubs vie for a place in the 1st Qualifying Round. Litherland REMYCA of Northwest Counties League Premier are already through for the first time in their history courtesy of a walkover against Droylsden. 31 other clubs are looking to join REMYCA in the 1st Qualifying Round for the first time ever. New Salamis of Spartan South Midlands League One host West Essex of Essex Senior League, Winslow United, also of Spartan South Midlands League One, travel to Hellenic League One East side Risborough Rangers, and the Wessex League battle between Fawley of Division One and Tadley Calleva of Premier Division mean at least three others will definitely be celebrating a record FA Cup run.
Midland Football League Premier side Long Eaton United and Bottesford Town of Northern Counties East League Premier are meeting in the FA Cup for the third time in four seasons. What’s notable about their previous games is that there has been a six-goal winning margin in both. Bottesford Town won 6-0 in 2017/18 whilst Long Eaton United exacted the perfect revenge by winning 8-2 just last season.
4 That tie is one of 32 involving clubs who’ve met in the competition before, with four times as the most often. Northern League One side West Auckland Town hosting rivals Ashington is one (Ashington ahead three wins to one). The other sees Deal Town of Southern Counties East League Premier try to defeat Sittingbourne of
Isthmian League One South East at the fifth time of asking. Their fourth meeting was way back in 1966/67 season.
Two ties guarantee a Step 6 club in the 1st Qualifying Round. One being that Risborough Rangers versus Winslow United game, the other being the all-West Midlands Regional League tie between Shifnal Town and AFC Bridgnorth.
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There are 25 Step 6 clubs still standing, but two face particularly daunting ties against two of 13 Step 3 clubs. West Midlands Regional League side OJM Black Country Rangers host Matlock Town of Northern Premier League Premier, but Eastern Counties East League Division One club Halstead Town have an even more difficult task of overcoming Leiston of Southern League Premier Central on their patch.
Southern Counties East League side Erith and Belvedere take on their second successive FA Cup debutant. After defeating Kennington of Division One in the last round, they now host Alfold of Southern Combination League Premier in this one. Alfold made a dramatic entrance into the FA Cup, with only eight clubs in the competition’s history winning by a bigger margin than their 9-1 debut FA Cup match victory.
Talking of history, when Southern Combination League Premier side Broadbridge Heath take on Haywards Heath Town of Isthmian League One South East, it will be the first time in a total of almost 73,000 FA Cup matches where both clubs have the word ‘Heath’ in their names!