143rd times the FA Cup charm

Plus the cup that is generating all the enthusiasm of a kid eating their broccolli

Neil Maskell

and

Tom Canning

Sep 20, 2024

NEWS | FEATURES | PODCAST | FIXTURES & SCORES

In this weeks newsletter:

🏟️ 143rd times the charm
⚽ Match of the weekend - an FA Vase debut
👑 An evening with Nicky Shorey - ticket details
🏆 The cup that is generating the enthusiasm of a kid eating their broccolli

And then there were three. Following the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round replays in midweek, only Slough Town, Maidenhead United and Reading FC can win the illustrious trophy for the Royal County this season.

The Rebels have reached the FA Cup Second Round Proper three times in their last twenty seasons and last term – inspired by player-manager they led EFL side Grimsby Town at Fortress Arbour until late on. They will fancy their chances of joining Maidenhead United in the Fourth Qualifying Round draw on Monday week as they travel to Chatham Town of Step 4 next weekend having eliminated Chichester City in the midweek replay.

Spare a thought for Hungerford Town. They missed out on an attractive-looking home tie with Step 2 strugglers Weymouth after last minute heartbreak in their own replay at home against Winchester City, a result that manager Danny Robinson insisted was “fully deserved”. The Crusaders continue to seek a Round 1 berth for the first time since 1979 when they lost 3-1 at…..Slough Town.

Want to know more? Email tom.canning@footballinberkshire.co.uk

This season will be Maidenhead’s 143^rd attempt at winning the competition. They entered the first-ever FA Cup in 1871/72 and one of the first four ties ever played in the competition was held at York Road on November 11^th 1871. Marlow were sent back north of the border with their tails between their legs after a 2-0 defeat. Since their elevation to the National League in 2017, The Magpies have won through their Fourth Qualifying Round tie in six of their seven seasons at Step 1. A cup run would certainly lift spirits at York Road after a slow start to the season.

What price an ‘SL Classico’ tie in the next round? Well, amazingly Maidenhead and Slough have not faced each other in a FA Cup tie since 1927…

Drop a message in the comments if you know the score in that one..

Neil Maskell

Match of the Weekend

Saturday 21st September / 3pm / Stag Meadow

Windsor & Eton vs Easington Sports

An FA Vase debut? That’s Windsor & Eton this season as they make their debut in the competition against United Counties League Premier Division South Easington Sport. The Royalists have started the season with a bang and top the Combined Counties League Division One, they’ve also progressed in the County Cup beating higher division Wokingham Town.

Fair to say they are the favourites going into this one. And if you don’t fancy Windsor there are nine other Berkshire sides in FA Vase action.

All the weekend fixtures

Tickets on sale for "An afternoon with Nicky Shorey" at Purple Turtle

Reading FC legend Shorey will talk about his time as part of Steve Coppell's brilliant Championship title winning team that set a new record of 106 points in the 2005-2006 season - and went on to finish eighth in Reading's first ever season in the Premier League.

For information about how to buy tickets for the November 10 event with Nicky Shorey, you can email mark@halpinsportsponsorship.com - or send a WhatsApp message to 07842 627548.

Doors will open at 12pm at the popular venue in Gun Street, with the event kicking off at 1pm. Tickets start at £12.50.

The National League Cup causing a stir..

Wandering Tractor’s reviews will be back, but we didn’t want to share the same one again, so while we wait for our non-league culinary connoisseur to file his next missive, here’s an extra news piece from the Vanarama National League.

The new National League Cup is causing some controversy. It will pit Premier League under 21 teams against National League sides including Maidenhead United, but it comes after the National League as a body backed the scrapping of FA Cup replays from this season - the opposite position taken by the EFL and a number of National League clubs.

Not long after, plans for the National League Cup were announced.

Solihull Moors and Eastleigh have confirmed they won’t play in the competition while Rochdale appear to be going in with all the enthusiasm of a kid eating their broccoli.

Maidenhead meanwhile will play in the competition having confirmed so on the club website. When the likes of young Reading, AFC Bournemouth and Wycombe Wanderers sides have visited non-league clubs in the County Cups, these games have been well attended, so it remains to be seen if home group ties against the likes of Fulham u21, Reading u21, Brighton u21 and Southampton u21 will stir similar feeling and have the old turnstiles ticking.

Tom Canning