BALLS OUT THE BAG

A dilemma last night, "the Archers" or the First Round Proper of the FA Cup draw. The black velvet bag and red balls used to come out traditionally on a Monday lunchtime, the draw made on BBC radio from the FA HQ at Lancaster Gate. It used to give an edge to the school meal. In fact I wonder if the 1st Round draw was ever broadcast in those days, the third round was and it always held much interest?
These days the earlier rounds are increasingly important to the public as "Non-league" football grows in popularity.

So last night I was enjoying neither treat. I was in our local football club AGM, to which 11 people turned up and momentous decisions were made. Our village club, Hepworth United FC, was not in the draw and indeed is not yet elevated to a league that would invite them into the FA Vase, but we live in hope.

The draw has given Merstham FC, a village team from Surrey, playing in the Isthmian Premier (7th tier) a plum tie at home against Oxford United. Local fan, Timmy Mallett, the well known entertainer sent his warmest wishes to his home club on hearing the news of the tie against the professionals. Perhaps Timmy will make an appearance and cheer everyone up.

Merstham officials offered free drinks in their club bar until their name (ball no.79) was drawn out of the bag. Ball 79 was pulled out as the 4th tie, so there was a sigh of relief for the bar manager since there are 40 ties played at this stage.
39 non-league clubs join 48 from League One and Two, with 7 replay clubs still in the hat.

Chesham in the Southern League, also a 7th tier club, play Peterborough United. So it is the posh from the posh part of the home counties playing the Posh.

9th tier Westfields, from hereford, the lowest ranked side in the competition, play in the Midlands Premier and were founded in 1966 (appropriately as a result of the World Cup triumph). They hope to upset Curzon Ashton who knocked out York City in the last round. The club started as a friendly one, with a bunch of lads playing local teams such as the Oxford Arms and the Post Office. They entered the Herefordshire Sunday league and the rest is history.

If Taunton win their replay over Hemel, they entertain Barrow, a long haul for the Cumbrians. Fleetwood supporters have a short journey to Southport, a proper local derby, whilst Southend travel from the seaside to the "Lions' Den" at Millwall.

The ties are to be played on the first weekend in November (the 5th is the Saturday) and the winners' prize money is £18,000 per team, thanks to Emirates.

 Sorry Roy!