The 2020-21 FA Cup gets underway on Tuesday 1st September with the Extra Preliminary Round. So here we go with the first path on the Road to Wembley. The first baton holder will be Horndean who have been drawn away to Bemerton Heath Harlequins. The Deans are in the Wessex League Premier Division (Level 9, 5 below League Two). They were in 6th place when the 2019-20 season was abandoned They have reached the First Qualifying Round on nine occasions but are yet to venture any further. The Harlequins are a division below the visitors, in Wessex League Division One, where they stood in 3rd spot when the season was abandoned. They reached the Third Qualifying Round in 1992-93. If the Deans manage to get through they will be at home to Sholing in the Preliminary Round. A bubble fixture if fans are allowed
I have just been looking through some of the team names to see if there are any 'weird and wonderful' ones and I came across West Allotment Celtic. That got me wondering - is there a team out there somewhere called East Allotment Rangers?
Well the Deans have to wait another year for FA Cup glory, with the Harlequins winning 2-1. So it's on to the Preliminary Round on Saturday 12th September: Bemerton Heath Harlequins v Sholing The Boatmen are in The Southern League Division One South (two divisions above the hosts) Their finest hour came in 2012-13 when they reached the 3rd qualifying round. Last season they went out in the 2nd qualifying round going down 0-3 to Weymouth.
Result: Bemerton Heath Harlequins 0-1 Sholing So SHOLING carry the baton into the First Qualifying Round on (my birthday!) Tuesday 22nd September
North Hampshire's finest (Farnborough) are through to the next round after beating Lymington Town on penalties. Huzzah!
So on Tuesday it will be Fairford Town v SHOLING Fairford are in the Helenic League Premier Division, one level below the visitors. This is their fifth appearance in the First Qualifying Round, equalling the club record, which they last managed in 2008-09. Last season they went out in the Preliminary Round, going down 2-3 at home to Hanwell Town The winners will go into the hat with HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE as we start the 2nd branch of the Road to Wembley in the 2nd Qualifying Round
Hampshire's finest, Farnborough, come back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 and gain a place in the 2nd qualifying round! Just 3 more wins until the possibility of Hampshire's top two clubs playing each other!
Fairford Town 1-2 SHOLING So SHOLING and HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE will hold the two batons in the 2nd Qualifying Round
The Draw has been made and our featured games are Saltash Utd v SHOLING and HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE v Horsham Saltash Utd v SHOLING The Ashes are in the South West Peninsular League Premier Division West, which, at Level 10, is two levels below the visitors They reached the Fourth Qualifying Round in 1987-88 Last season they fell at the first hurdle, going down 1-2 at home to Clevedon Town in the Extra Preliminary Round HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE v Horsham The Hawks are in National League South and famously reached the Fourth Round Proper in 2007-08, when they twice took the lead against Liverpool at Anfield before bowing out 5-2. This was of course, also the season when Pompey lifted the cup! Last season they went out in the Fourth Qualifying Round, losing 1-2 at home to Dulwich hamlet, also of the National League South, thus missing out on a home tie against Carlisle Utd. The Hornets are in the Isthmian League Premier Division, so are just one level below the Hawks. They also had their best cup run in 2007-08, reaching the Second Round Proper. They almost got to play the Hawks, having taken Swansea City to a replay in that 2nd round tie. Matches to be played on Saturday 3rd October
Saltash Utd 1-3 SHOLING So The Boatmen hang onto their baton and progress to the Third Qualifying Round. HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE entertain Horsham tomorrow
The draw has been made for the Third Qualifying Round and both of our teams have been given home draws. The Boatmen entertain Walton Casuals, while The Hawks welcome Chatham Town to Westleigh Park SHOLING v Walton Casuals The Stags are in the Southern League Premier Division South, so are a division above Sholing This cup run equals their best performance, having reached this stage in 2009-10 and 2016-17 Last season they were knocked out in the First Qualifying Round, going down 2-0 at Kingstonian HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE v Chatham Town The Chats are in the Southern Counties East League Premier Division. At Level 9 they are three levels below the Hawks, so this is a potential banana skin for the hosts. They have, however reached the Quarter Finals of the FA Cup, although is was a little while ago, in 1888-89! Last season they fell at the first fence, losing 2-1 away to Cray Valley (PM) in the Extra Preliminary Preliminary Round. By the way - the PM stands for Paper Mills Ties to be played on Tuesday 13th October
The winners of these ties will go into the Hat along with the National League teams, and be 90 minutes away from the Fist Round Proper. With the demise of Macclesfield Town I imagine one lucky side will receive a bye
SOLING v Walton Casuals kicks off at 19:30 this evening, while HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE v Chatham Town is tomorrow at 19:45
SHOLING 5-2 Walton Casuals The Boatmen are through to the Fourth Qualifying round for the first time in their history!
I wasn't online yesterday, but time to update Wednesday's result: HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE 4-1 Chatham Town Fourth Qualifying Round details to follow but I'd better do some work first.....