It's time for the annual Road to Wembley thread. Most people would have been concentrating on the start of the Football league season at the week-end, but this coincided with the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup. I'll start with a 'Dual Carriageway' and see how long it takes the two lanes to merge (predictions please ) The two sides I have started with are Horndean (because I used to live in Cowplain) and Wembley FC (start where you mean to finish) Horndean have reached the First Qualifying Round on nine occasions Wembley reached the First Round Proper in 1980-81 Firstly HORNDEAN of the Wessex League Premier Division (Level 9) at home to Melksham Town of the Western League Premier Division (also Level 9) Melksham have reached the 3rd Qualifying Round twice, although the most recent time was in 1957-58 Restult: Horndean 2-1 Melksham Secondly WEMBLEY FC of the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division (Level 9) away to Windsor FC of the Hellenic League Premier Division (Level 9) Windsor were founded in 2011 after Windsor & Eton FC folded. Windsor FC reached the First Qualifying Round in 2012-13. Windsor & Eton reached the Second Round Proper in 1983-84. They lost in a replay against Bournemouth, thus missing out on a Third Round Tie at home to Manchester United. Result: Windsor 1-4 Wembley ---- In the Preliminary Round: HORNDEAN are away to Binfield FC of the Hellenic League Premier Division. The Moles knocked out Chichester City in the Extra Preliminary Round with a 4-3 home win at Stubbs Lane. Binfield reached the 2nd Qualifying Round in 2013-14 WEMBLEY are away to Ashford Town (Middlesex), who are in the Southern League Division One Central (Level 8). Ashford are entering the competition in this round. They reached the Fourth Qualifying Round in 2004-05 and 08-09 Ties to be played on 19th August
Good thread devo! Are you and meowth going to join anti's Prediction Thread this season? As SB3 seems to have gone AWOL, we need you both to boost the numbers! You know you want to......... please log in to view this image
Saturday's results in the Preliminary Round: Ashford Town (Middx) 3-0 Wembley Binfield 1-1 Horndean Tuesday 22nd August Preliminary Round Replay Horndean 3-0 Binfield So it's ASHFORD TOWN (MIDDX) and HORNDEAN who carry the two batons into the FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND. ASHFORD TOWN (MIDDX) are at home to Corinthian Casuals. The Casuals are in the Isthmian League Division One South, which is at level eight, the same level as Ashford. They reached the First Round Proper in 1965-66 and 1983-84. HORNDEAN have been drawn at home to Bodmin Town. The Black & Ambers are in the South Western Peninsular League Premier Division, which is at level 10, one below The Deans. Bodmin reached the Third Qualifying Round in 2011-12. Ties to be played on Saturday 2nd September
I've been on trains that have stopped at Ashford (Middlesex) but I've not actually been there myself, I'd get off before.
A belated update! First Qualifying Round Results: ASHFORD TOWN (MIDDX) 2-0 Corinthian Casuals HORNDEAN 0-2 Bodmin Town So it was Ashford and Bodmin continuing into the Second Qualifying Round. Ashford were drawn away to Marlow of the Southern League Division One East (Level 8 - the same as the Ash Trees) The Blues reached the semi-finals in 1882, but their best effort since then was the Third Round Proper; in 1992-3 and 1994-5 Bodmin Town were drawn at home to Bideford, of the Southern League Division One West (Level 8, two levels higher than the Black & Ambers) The Robins have reached the First Round Proper on four occasions, most recently in 1981-2. Results: Marlow 0-2 ASHFORD TOWN (MIDDX) BODMIN P-P Bideford - match re-arranged for 20th September The draw for the Third Qualifying round has been made. Ashford Town (Middx) are at home to Leatherhead. The Tanners are in the Isthmian League Premier Division (Level 7, so a level higher than Ashford). They reached the Fourth Round Proper in 1974-5. The winners of the other tie will be away to Haringey Borough. The Borough are in the Isthmian League Division One North (Level 8) This equals their best Cup run, having previously reach the Third Qualifying Round in 1986-7. Ties to be played on 30th September. I will be offline throughout October so will have to do a round up of the Third and Fourth Qualifying round when I'm back - hopefully BEFORE the First Round Proper!
After a long absence it's high time we caught up! Third Qualifying result were: ASHFORD TOWN MDDX 1-2 Leatherhead Harringay Borough 4-1 BIDEFORD For the Fourth Qualifying Round: LEATHERHEAD were drawn away to Margate. Like Leatherhead, The Gate are in the Isthmian League Premier Division. HARRINGAY BOROUGH were drawn at home to Heybridge Swifts. As with our other tie, the Swifts are in the same division (Isthmian League Division One North) as their opponents. RESULTS: Margate 1-2 LEATHERHEAD HARRINGAY BOROUGH 2-4 Heybridge Swifts -------- So onto The First Round Proper! LEATHERHEAD were drawn at home, in an all-non-league affair with yet another Isthmian Premier side - Billericay Town. The Ricay's best Cup run to date was three appearances in the First Round Proper - this being their fourth. HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS were drawn away to League Two outfit, Exeter City. The Grecians reached the quarter finals in 1930-31 and 1980-81. RESULTS: LEATHERHEAD 1-1 Billericay Exeter City 3-1 HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS So, as we look forward to ROUND TWO....... LEATHERHEAD or Billericay will be away to Wycombe Wanderers. The Chairboys, currently in League Two, reached the semi-finals in 2001. EXETER CITY have been drawn away to League Two counterparts Forest Green Rovers. The Green Devils reached the third round, as a non-league side, in 2008-9 and 2009-10. It is also at this stage that, alas, we add the Jim Bowen (let's see what you could have won) tie as LUTON TOWN take on Gateshead away. The Heed were established in 1977 to replace Gateshead Utd, who folded. They are currently in the National league Premier Division, a step below League Two. Their best cup run is the third round in 2014-15.
Either I'm losing it or may last entry didn't go on for some reason.... The replay ended Billericay 1-3 LEATHERHEAD so The Tanners will travel to Wycombe in Round Two.
ROUND TWO Sat 2/12 Forest Green 3-3 EXETER CITY Replay Tues 12th Sun 3/12 Gateshead 0-5 LUTON TOWN Wycombe Wanderers 3-1 LEATHERHEAD
As we approach the draw for ROUND THREE, the round which plastic fans believe is the first round of the competition , let's recap the routes that the roads have taken thus far (without converging yet!): WEMBLEY FC level 9 ASHFORD TOWN (MDDX) level 8 LEATHERHEAD level 7 WYCOMBE WANDERERS level 4 HORNDEAN level 9 BODMIN TOWN level 10 BIDEFORD level 8 HARRINGAY BOROUGH level 8 HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS level 8 EXETER CITY level 4 (or Forest Green level 4) LUTON TOWN level 4
Did I forget to mention????? Exeter beat Forest Green 2-1 AET in their replay so it's the Grecians carrying the Red Baton into Round Three. EXETER'S reward is a home tie against Premier League opposition in West Bromwich Albion. The Baggies have won the cup five times and been runners up on five other occasions, although their last final was in 1968 when they beat Everton 1-0 with a goal from Jeff Astle three minutes into extra time. The goal meant that Astle had scored in every round of that season's competition. WYCOMBE WANDERERS have also been drawn at home with Championship side Preston North End the visitors to Adams Park. The lillywhites have won the cup twice and been runners up five times, but like West Brom, you have to go back to the 1960s for their most recent final. They went down 3-2 to West Ham in 1964, a match in which Howard Kendall became the youngest player to play in a Wembley FA Cup Final, aged 17 years 345 days. In the Jim Bowen Tie LUTON TOWN have drawn Premier League opposition and make their way up to the other St James' Park to face Newcastle United. The Magpies have won the cup six times, most recently as far back as 1955. They have also been runners up seven times, with their most recent appearance in the final being the 2-0 defeat to Manchester United in 1999. Having already won the League, Man Utd went on to complete the treble a few days later when they lifted the Champions League Trophy. The ties are to be played on Saturday 6th January.
So, hot off the press, here are the results: EXETER CITY 0-2 West Bromwich Albion WYCOMBE WANDERERS 1-5 Preston North End Newcastle 3-1 LUTON TOWN So it will be 'All Change' in Round Four, as WEST BROM, PRESTON and NEWCASTLE carry the batons.
So it's away ties for all three baton holders in Round Four> WEST BROM are away to Liverpool. The Reds have won the cup seven times, most recently in 2006. Last season: Went out in Round four after going down 1-2 at home to Wolves. PRESTON are away to Sheffield Utd. The Blades have won the cup four times, but you have to go back to 1925 for their last triumph Last season: went down 3-2 at Bolton in Round Two NEWCASTLE will be away to either Norwich City or Chelsea
So a penalty shootout win for Chelsea completes the draw and they will host Green Baton Holders Newcastle. The Pensioners have lifted the trophy seven times; most recently in 2012. Last season they were runners-up, losing 2-1 to Arsenal in the final.
So the Round Four results in our games were: Liverpool 2-3 WEST BROM Sheffield Utd 1-0 PRESTON Chelsea 3-0 NEWCASTLE In the Fifth Round Draw the three baton holders have managed to avoid each other, so with eight ties, we still have three lanes on the Road to Wembley! WEST BROM have been drawn at home to Southampton The Saints of course famously won the cup as a Second Division (Championship) side in 1976 when a Bobby Stokes goal shocked Man Utd. They have also been runners up in 1900, 1902 and 2003. Last season they went out in the Fourth Round after being thrashed 0-5 by Arsenal at St Marys SHEFFIELD UTD (apologies for being in blue, but that's the luck of the draw!) are away to Leicester City. The Foxes have never won the cup, but have been runners up on four occasions, although the most recent occasion was back in 1969. Last season they suffered a cupset in the Fifth Round, losing 1-0 at League One Millwall. CHELSEA are at home to Hull City. The Tigers have reached the final on one occasion, when they were runners up in 2014. They were also at the wrong end of an upset last season, when, as a Premier League side, they went down 4-1 to Championship Fulham in Round Four.
Round Five Results. WEST BROM 1-2 Southampton Leicester City 1-0 SHEFFIELD UTD CHELSEA 4-0 Hull City Quarter Final Draw: LEICESTER CITY V CHELSEA At last two of our three branches converge, meaning we are now looking at just two of the four ties Wigan Athletic v SOUTHAMPTON The Latics are rewarded for dumping out Citeh with a home tie in the quarter finals. Wigan have already knocked out Crawley Town, AFC Fylde, Bournemouth, West Ham and Man City to get this far. With three Premier League scalps to their name Saints will know this will be no walk over. Wigan have won the cup once, in 2013, when they became the first side to win it in the same season as being relegated. Last season they went out in the Fourth Round, going down 4-0 to Man Utd at Old Trafford.
Nearly there now. OK the semi finals are at Wemb;ey these days, but "The Road to Wembley" goes right to the final. Round Six Results: LEICESTER 1-2 CHELSEA AET Wigan 0-2 SOUTHAMPTON The Semi Final Draw sees our two remaining teams pitted together, so it will either be CHELSEA or SOUTHAMPTON who will carry the baton into the final.
