88 clubs across the Step 3 Trident Leagues join the 136 others that have battled their way through to the 1st Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, with at least 17 of those Step 3 clubs destined to exit the competition at this stage.
98 of those that have won through to the 1st Qualifying Round began their campaign in the Extra Preliminary Round including Wincanton Town of Western League Division One who are the last representative of Step 6 clubs still standing. They host AFC Totton as they look to continue their record breaking FA Cup run.
Wincanton are one of 17 clubs appearing in the 1st Qualifying Round of the FA Cup for the first time. Holyport FC and West Didsbury and Chorlton are both in their 9th campaign, whilst Harborough Town are participating in the FA Cup for the 10th time.
Amongst those 17 record breakers are five clubs experiencing the thrills of the FA Cup for the first time namely Buckhurst Hill, Bury AFC, Midhurst and Easebourne, Shefford Town and Campton, and Worcester Raiders.
The Raiders have taken to the FA Cup like a duck to water as they are the current joint top scorers in the competition with 13 goals, along with Ashford Town (Middlesex). Their star striker Jordan Murphy has netted six of their goals to stand out as the current top scorer in this season’s competition.
There are two ties where FA Cup history is guaranteed to be made. Fisher FC host Spelthorne Sports and West Didsbury and Chorlton entertain Macclesfield FC with the winners of each tie participating in the Q2 Round for the first time ever.
There are 25 ties involving clubs who’ve met in the FA Cup before, with two pairs of clubs being drawn together for the fifth time. Whilst Nantwich Town and Congleton Town have two victories each in past Cup meetings, Herne Bay have defeated Horsham FC on all their four previous encounters with an 11 to 4 goal aggregate.
Walton and Hersham will be looking to avenge a 5-2 reverse against Beaconsfield Town from just last season, as will Stourport Swifts who lost 4-0 at Lichfield City 12 months ago.
A couple of clubs have had to wait considerably longer to exact revenge for a past FA Cup defeat to this season’s scheduled opponents. At least Stalybridge Celtic did beat Lancaster City (Town as was) the season before their 2-1 defeat from 85 years ago, whereas Marlow FC were beaten for the third time out of three by Uxbridge FC one year earlier with an aggregate score of 17-4.
And with 262 campaigns between them Marlow versus Uxbridge is the most experienced FA Cup tie of all time!
FA Cup Factfile 