The FA Cup got underway last night with a few Extra Preliminary Round matches. A number of local [to Portsmouth] teams are in action today. The pick of the ties has to be Team Solent v AFC Portchester. Team Solent are affiliated to Southampton University and play in the Wessex League Division One, where they finished 3rd last season. Portchester are in the Wessex League Premier Division, where they finished 15th last term. The winners face a difficult trip to Godalming Town of the Southern League Division One South and West in the Preliminary Round on 31st August
Woah woah woah! Not Southampton University. The other one. There was an all Wessex Prem game yesterday, Alresford 0-3 Winchester City.
Probably in October as the First Round Proper is in November. There are five more rounds to get through first though.
So Portchester travel to Godalming in the Preliminary Round tomorow. A couple of other interesting local ties: Petersfield Town v Horndean Newport IW v Fareham Totton & Eling v Sholing
Yeah, a while before Pompey enter. Conference South sides don't enter until the 2nd Qualifying Round. I remember seeing Windsor & Eton v Farnborough in a 2nd Qualfying game match once. On the same day, Pompey lost to Everton back when we had Paul Hart as manager. *sigh* I miss 2009.
A great away win for Portchester at higher league opposition. Horndean beat Petersfield and Fareham beat Newport IW. Next it's the First Qualifying Round
The draw has been made for the First qualifying round and AFC Portchester have been drawn away to Horndean! Fareham are at home to Weymouth. Moneyfields will be away to Bashley if they win their replay against Longwell. Totton Eling and Sholing have a replay, with the winners at home to AFC Totton. Ties to be played on 14th September
Let's follow the progress of AFC Portchester in the FA Cup then, eh dev ? That would make a great local derby - Pompey v AFC Portchester
I went to the first preliminary tie when Winchester beat New Arlesford and the atmosphere was hugely enjoyable. It seemed more like a cricket match in the fan that the fans mingled and watch the match from the pavilion. I am curious just how many people regularly watch non-league football here and how many have travelled to away games. I tend to select matches when Saints are playing and, so far, this means I can catch the Winchester home matches as they tend to alternate. It would be interesting to learn which clubs have the best ground at this level of the game.
I watch Farnborough fairly often, and I have been to a selection of away games: Woking, Basingstoke, Hampton & Richmond.... That's it I think. Also, Portsmouth Ladies play at Westleigh Park (a non-league ground), if that counts. I've also been to a few other random non-league clubs including Farnborough North End, Alton, etc. When I went to a Portsmouth game once and I got to Eastleigh before finding out the game had been called off, I considered going to Eastleigh's game instead but that had also been called off.
Some of Saturday's games... Poole Town v Brockenhurst Fareham v Weymouth Hallen v Hamworthy Sholing v AFC Totton Winchester v Mangotsfield Horndean v Portchester Bashley v Moneyfields
A comfortable 5-0 away win for AFC Portchester at Horndean sees them progress to the 2nd Qualifying round, which sees the introduction of the Conference North and South sides. Other results of local interest Poole Town 2-0 Brockenhurst Fareham Town 0-1 Weymouth Sholing 4-0 AFC Totton Winchester City 1-2 Mangotsfield Utd Bashley 2-0 Moneyfields
