The FA Cup continues this weekend with the Preliminary Round. Damon and Simon from The Real FA Cup blog pick out the ties to watch.
If you've been paying attention, you'll know the FA Cup 2010/11 is well underway. After a quaint, absorbing and damp start to the FA Cup goal-fest two weeks ago, the Bank Holiday weekend promises to be drier and longer. You can go to a game and still have an extra day off! This week we pick out a few old clubs, some upstarts and a couple of games where ITV cameras will be.
Tunbridge Wells v Dulwich Hamlet
Our local team, Dulwich Hamlet, head off into the garden of England with their blend of youngsters and seasoned non-league regulars. A familiar breeding ground for good pros, Hamlet have recently seen Wolves’ George Elokobi, Norwich’s Simeon Jackson and Burnley’s Leon Cort come through their ranks. Southampton manager Alan Pardew also had a spell at Hamlet, in fact he played for no fewer than four teams in this round of the cup. But who?
Wakefield v Ashington (&) AFC Emley v Northallerton
The most famous ex-Ashington player is probably Ashes winning quick bowler Steve Harmison, before he opted for a smaller ball. However, despite the paucity of alumni of the football team, the well-known Northumbrian pit-town was the birthplace of a remarkable crop of 50s and 60s talent. Among the most famous are Jackie's Milburn and Charlton and Jack's brother Bobby.
Wakefield, on the other hand, have almost no footballing history to speak of. It’s a rugby town and their acquisition of a football club is an increasingly familiar tale of a club uprooted in the pursuit of higher glory. Originally called (and based in) the village of Emley, the club moved to share a rugby stadium in Wakefield after FA ground regulation changes necessitated more plush surroundings. With the move came a name change to Wakefield & Emley and the end was nigh for the village side.
Emley had a good FA Cup pedigree and their name will send shivers through West Ham fans. In the 1997/98 FA Cup the minnows rocked up to the Boleyn in the 3rd Round and, after going behind to a goal that was supposed to open the floodgates, Emley had the temerity to equalise. Hairdresser Paul David got Emley's goal before John Hartson's 82nd minute winner clinched victory for a lucky Hammers side containing Lampard and Rio Ferdinand.
After that it was downhill and in 2005 Emley's former officials decided to claim the name back, return home and start all over again. That club is AFC Emley and in just 5 years they’ve gained a promotion and improved season-on-season. If both win, it’s Wakefield v Emley in the next round!
South Park v Horsham YMCA
ITV's Road to Wembley continues with South Park after they beat Greenwich Borough two weeks ago. We've seen the Ryman league away side before in the FA Cup and it wasn't the best of games so South Park have a good chance to progress.
But, of as much interest to ITV and their viewers here is who awaits the victor in the next round. Although probably unknown to most football fans, Cray Wanderers are one of the oldest football clubs in the world and this year celebrate their 150th anniversary.
Felixstowe & Walton v Team Bury
One of the big stories of the previous round was the success of Team Bury. A University or college team in the FA Cup is unusual enough these days but Team Bury is an Under 19 College team and the vast majority of the players are only 18. They were reported to be the youngest team to ever win an FA Cup match when they beat Ampthill 2-1 in the last round.
Felixstowe & Walton FC are the offspring of Felixstowe Town & Walton United. Both born in the 1890s they survived alone until after the Second World War when they merged. Like the traditional marriage, the seven year itch kicked in and in 1952 they got divorced. Not content with the single life, like Liz Taylor and Richard Burton they got hitched again in 2000. F&W are in the league above Team Bury but with erratic starts to the season by both, the underdogs might fancy a small upset.
A couple of notable other games are Loughborough Dynamo v Shepshed Dynamo and Lingfield v Corinthian Casuals. Previews of these games and more are on therealfacup website.
With Non League Day coming up on 4th September what better time to take an interest in your local side? There are games on Friday night and both Saturday and Sunday afternoons so check out the FA’s full fixture list here. We’ll be back after the weekend with another goal fest to report. Hopefully!
For more on the FA Cup visit the FA Website and check out Damon and Simon's The Real FA Cup for more early round coverage.
Photo courtesy of The Real FA Cup
More reports at the FA website
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