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The FA cup doesn’t just begin when the Premier League teams enter in the 3rd Round proper. It began last month with the First Qualification Round.
In the truest traditions of the grassroots tournament, we are following a side from the outset and hope to stay with them and be at their games, or those of the side who eliminate them, all the way to Wembley.
This site already sponsors the manager of Carlisle City, James Nichols. So in the interests of geographical balance, we selected a club at the other end of the nation, Portsmouth’s own Moneyfields FC. Our assistant editor Conor Smith claims to have played against their reserves for Netley which may have influenced our choice.
The decision was cemented by their opposition Aylesbury United. The Ducks are a club with an FA Cup pedigree, who currently play their home games in Chesham, agonisingly far from their own Buckinghamshire home town, but agonisingly close to Wembley which is where this story ends next May.
So we started our series, “Moneyfields to Wembley“ with their visit to Aylesbury United, the Ducks, now playing their home games at the Meadows, home of Chesham United.
The Moneys progressed which brings us to the next round where they host London’s oldest club Cray Wanderers.
Richard Green of Cray Valley Paper Mills media contributed to this article.
The draw for the 2nd Qualification Round of the 2020/21 FA Cup has been made.
Our selected side Moneyfields FC snagged a home tie against a team of some note Cray Wanderers FC, known as the Chocolates.
Preview: Cray Wanderers visit Moneyfields with 100% record. Whose cup will filleth over?
But what of the Kent side’s local rivals, Cray Valley Paper Mills, known as the Millers?
Moneyfields may not make it to Wembley but the Paper Mills are gong to be within five miles as they have been drawn away to Southern League Premier South Division Harrow Borough and visit their Earlsmead Stadium
Paper Mills have never been in the FA Cup in the Club’s 100 year history and aim for the 3rd Qualifying Round for the first time of so understandably there is much excitement around St Mary Cray.
By comparison. their hosts have reached the competition proper twice in the last ten years – the most recent being in 2016/17 when a First Round visit to Northampton Town resulted in a 6-0 drubbing.
While the Millers can boast an as yet, unbeaten start to the season, Boro’s campaign has seen them beaten in their three league outings – the most recent being a 5-2 defeat at Met Police on Tuesday when defender Chinua Cole was dismissed following a 56th minute fracas. Probably not the best opponent to get involved with aggro against!
A 70th minute penalty and last minute over-head kick from Marc Charles-Smith put a glimmer of light on an otherwise dismal result.
Before then, he defence had been fairly solid. Defence had in fact been Boro’s early season strength, while FA Cup wins at Langney Wanderers (on pens after a 1-1 draw) and Beaconsfield Town (2-0) have seen Harrow through to this stage.
Darren Wilkinson’s Harrow men were languishing in 17th place when the 2019/20 was brought to a premature close. They are sure to provide a stern test for The Millers, but hopes will be high for a victorious trip home to South London and to be the men who make Paper Mills history.
NEWS FOR VISITING FANS
Harrow Borough play at Earlsmead Stadium, Carlyon Avenue, South Harrow, HA2 8SS
For those travelling, please be aware that the journey by road can be a bit of a nightmare, particularly on a Saturday afternoon, so public transport could be an option.
The nearest station is Northolt Park – Chiltern Railways train from Marylebone, running at 05 and 46 minutes past the hour. 14 minute train journey then 10 minute walk to the ground (signposted). Rayners Lane is another nearby Underground stop should fans want to travel via Wembley.
Entry is available on the day, but advance tickets can be bought at https://harrowboroughfc.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets
There will be a temperature check at the gate.
Adult £12
Concession £6
Under 16 £2
More from Prost International
The Second Qualifying Round Draw
43 clubs from Step 6 joined the 117 winners from the First Qualifying round. The FA published the full 2nd Round Draw as a pdf.
The games are set to be played in the first week of October. The draw contained two teams from Step 6, Risborough Rangers and Saltash United.
Saltash were drawn at home to Hampshire side Sholing while Risborough must travel to Chichester City.
The draw contains some absorbing ties and this is a list of our favourites, selected for a variety of reasons:
Darlington v Prescot Cables
Hashtag United v Braintree
Corinthian Casuals v Dulwich Hamlet
Runcorn Linnets v Marine
Hyde United v Fylde
Bury Town v Waltham Abbey
Kettering Town v Chelmsford city
Walthamstow v Hornchurch
Warrington Rylands v York City
Hayes and Yeading v Bognor Regis
Harrow Borough v Cray Valley Paper Mills
Chichester City v Risborough Rangers
Folkestone Invicta v Chatham
Moneyfields v Cray Wanderers
Met Police v Waltham Casuals
Saltash United v Sholing
Gosport Borough v Hereford
Ilkeston Town v Hanley Town
The clubs who have reached this stage for the first time in their history have had mixed fortunes.
Two of them, Ilkeston Town and Hanley Town face each other.
Sheppey United are at home to Welling United. Longridge Town travel to Stalybbridge Celtic.
Warrington Rylands host York City in one of the draw’s plum ties.
Two clubs in their first FA Cups drew interesting ties. Hashtag United host Braintree, while Newark visit Mickleover.
West London side Bedfont Sports host Carshalton in a battle between two clubs who hosted a number of games in the 2018 CONIFA World Cup.
It’s the first appearance for Saltash in 29 years and the first in 24 years for Melksham, who avenged a previous elimination at the hands of Highworth Town. Wiltshire side Melksham visit Wimborne Town in Dorset.
The Cornishmen from Saltash provided one of the bigger shocks when the Step 6 side beat Cirencester from Step 4 3-1.
For us though, it is Moneyfields v Cray Wanderers that catches the eye, as it is the next game in our Moneyfields to Wembley series which will follow the Portsea club all the way to Wembley, and follow anyone who beats them.
Full 1st Qualification Round Results (from the FA website)
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