The FA cup doesn’t just begin when the Premier League teams enter in the 3rd Round proper. It began in summer with the First Qualification Round and one pre qualifying round before.
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 however lost to London’s oldest club Cray Wanderers. Today they found out their fate in the draw
The draw for the 3nd Qualification Round of the 2020/21 FA Cup has been made.
There are some eye catching ties.
Our followed team in our Moneyfields to Wembley series, Cray Wanderers face Bristol Manor Farm in Birstol.
Their rivals Cray Valley Paper Mills are at home to Aveley, who also adopted the nickname the Millers in 1952 when they moved to a stadium in Mill Road.
Of the bigger names, there were mixed fortunes:
Darlington are at home to Tadcaster Albion. York City head to Lancashire for the second round running, visiting Chorley.
Chester are at home to Spennymoor and former FA Cup giantkillers Hereford are away to Stafford Rangers.
There were five Step 5 sides left in the competition; Longridge Town, Skelmersdale United, Chatham Town, and Christchurch. Burnham FC are also in but have yet to play their previous match against Whyteleafe in the Second Qualification Round.
Two of them were drawn to face each other as Longridge drew a home tie with Skelmersdale in an enthralling Lancashire derby.
Chatham are away to Havant & Waterlooville while Christchurch host Dulwich Hamlet. Buckinghamshire club Burnham FC or Whyteleafe will host Concord Rangers.
Barking, in this round for the first time, travel to Hampshire to play Hartley Wintney.
There are some interesting ties in West London, Hayes and Yeading host Surrey club Chispstead, Hampton & Richmond Borough host Hornchurch and Bedfont Sports in this round for the first time host host Canvey Island.
If you’re looking for a tie in North London, Haringey Borough were drawn at home to Bracknell Town.
Farsley Celtic v Fylde leads the Roses matches after York’s trip to Chorley.
There’s an Essex derby at Braintree where Maldon & Tiptree will be the guests.
The matches are to be played between October 12th and 15th.
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