CENTENARY CAMPAIGN FOR BEES AND ALTY

FA CUP history was made in the third round qualifying as National League North side Kettering Town became the first club ever to score more than 900 goals in the competition (see pages 8&9).

And more records could come the Poppies’ way if they overcome Buxton

in the fourth round qualifying. Along with Yeovil Town, who enter the competition at this stage with 22 other National League clubs, they hold the record for most FA Cup first round proper appearances as a Non-League club.

The Glovers host Weymouth in what is the most common tie of the fourth qualifying round. It is the ninth time the two clubs have been drawn together and the first time for 34 years. Both have been victorious four times each.

That tie one of only three in the round involving two clubs from the top level of the NonLeague pyramid. Dagenham & Redbridge travel to Wealdstone in the knowledge that they have won both previous FA Cup encounters against their hosts, and Boreham Wood visit Barnet for the first time in the competition.

Barnet are one of two clubs participating next weekend for the 100th time having first competed as Barnet and Alston in the 1912/13 season.

The other FA Cup centurion is Altrincham who travel to Southport, themselves celebrating their 125th campaign. Altrincham have a three-to-one win ratio over their hosts, winning 3-1 as recently as two years ago, but when Southport won their first encounter in 1921/22 it preceded a 12-year hiatus from the competition for the Robins.

That is one of only nine ties involving clubs who’ve met in the FA Cup before, with a couple having had to wait a long time to exact revenge. It is 68 years since Buxton lost 3-0 to Kettering Town, and three quarters of a century since Marine lost 5-0 at Wrexham in what was a 1st Round game.

Marine versus Wrexham is one of five ties that pit a lowest level still standing Step 4 club against a top level National League side.

Pontefract Collieries, appearing in the fouth round qualifying for the first time, host near neighbours FC Halifax Town. Chertsey Town, also appearing at this stage for the first time ever in their 54th campaign, have an even harder task as they travel to Southend United, starting at this round for the first time in 97 years.

Hastings United are another Step 4 club visiting a top-level opponent in the shape of Maidenhead United, whilst Stockport County host Northern Premier League Division One Midland side Stamford. The Daniels are the last remaining club of those who began their FA Cup campaigns this season in the extra preliminary round so are just one game away from emulating Skelmersdale United from last season.

A few other clubs are competing in this round for the first time ever.

Dorking Wanderers host

Hayes & Yeading United, who are looking to make the first round for the third successive season, and Bedfont Sports will entertain Kidderminster Harriers. But Bromsgrove Sporting are the club that will be feeling the giddiest having never been beyond the first round qualifying before this season. They host National League pacesetters

Grimsby Town, who are twice semi-finalists.

York City are another former semi-finalist competing this weekend with

Morpeth Town their visitors, whilst Southern League Premier Central side Tamworth host a club that has gone all the way in the past, former winners Notts County, although it is 128 years since they achieved that feat.