It's hard to get too excited about the romance of the First Round Proper draw for the Cup this year (to be made at 1-30 today on ITV) when the "plucky underdogs" left in it are Arlesey Town and the Met Police.

At a quick count, 10 of the 32 non-league clubs in the first round draw (if Newport win their replay and including the winners of the Lincoln - Halifax replay) have played league football in recent memory.

Well we won't be anticipating a 3rd round tie against Premier League opposition this season, having been dumped out by Barrow.
Having seen the devastating effect it had on our form last season, a part (that stupid part that tries to find a silver lining on the biggest and blackest of clouds) of me thinks it might be for the best, concentrate on the league and all that. Obviously if our form tails off this season, then that will just lead to the conclusion that our players are a bunch of fannies who don't like the cold weather.

Bury v Exeter, jolly good, should be able to get along to that one

"AFC Wimbledon, winners in 1988", well done the presenter there.

Met Police meet Crawley, convenient given the dodginess of the latter.

Here's the whole thing:

Kidderminster Harriers v Oldham Athletic
Hayes & Yeading or Boreham Wood v Brentford
Chelmsford City or East Thurrock v Colchester United
Metropolitan Police v Crawley Town
Luton Town v AFC Telford U or Nuneaton Town
Portsmouth v Notts County
Bishop's Stortford v Hastings United
Fleetwood Town v Bromley
Forest Green Rovers or Dartford v Port Vale
Torquay United v Hyde or Harrogate T
AFC Bournemouth v Dagenham & Redbridge
Morecambe v Rochdale
Swindon Town v Macclesfield Town
Cambridge City v Milton Keynes Dons
Cheltenham Town v Yate Town or Newport County
Dorchester Town v Plymouth Argyle
Coventry City v Arlesey Town
York City v AFC Wimbledon
Bury v Exeter City
Chesterfield v Hartlepool United
Doncaster Rovers v Bradford Park Avenue
Gillingham v Scunthorpe United
Aldershot Town v Hendon
Lincoln City or FC Halifax Town v Walsall
Wrexham v Alfreton Town
Southend United v Stockport County
Crewe Alexandra v Wycombe Wanderers
Bristol Rovers v Sheffield United
Hereford United v Shrewsbury Town
Mansfield Town v Slough Town or Gosport Borough
Barnet v Oxford United
Rotherham United v Stevenage
AFC Fylde or Ilkeston Town v Accrington Stanley
Gloucester City v Leyton Orient
Burton Albion v Altrincham
Guiseley v Barrow
Northampton Town v Bradford City
Preston North End v Yeovil Town
Braintree Town v Tranmere Rovers
Carlisle United v Ebbsfleet United

Probably the most appalling aspect of this draw is that it is highly probable that Met Police v Crawley and Cambridge City v Franchise will be shown on TV.

Imber Court is five minutes from my house, I might go if they hold the tie there.

I would want to know that the FA will act on this appalling development first though.

.

That's a day out and a half for Ebbsfleet at Carlisle - a round trip of, what, 700 miles?

Given how often they kept mentioning that Alan Devonshire is Braintree manager, I expect their game v Tranmere to be live. Hereford v Shrewsbury (heated local derby, and NL v L1), Hayes/Boreham Wood v Brentford (all London), Chelmsford/East Thurrock v Colchester (all Essex), Dorchester v Plymouth (all South Coast), FGR/Dartford (moneybags/unique stadium) v Port Vale and Gloucester v Orient (which will be on the Sunday anyway as Glos share with Cheltenham) all more attractive than Cambridge City v Franchise and Filth v Fith

Flipping heck.

Away to York in the cup on a Saturday, away to Exeter in the league Tuesday, then away to York in the league Saturday.

1,280 miles on a coach in a week, that's going to help the players a lot.

Gloucester away's a proper tie. Just a shame they're still flooded out in Cheltenham

David Agnew wrote:

Maybe to people who actually care about football. Don't forget we are dealing with the collective brains of ITV and ESPN here. You only have to look at their match selections in the 3rd round last season to see how they see the game.

Sean of the Shed wrote:


Cambridge City are a great club and thoroughly deserve any TV revenue that comes their way. It's a pity the Franchise will get anything but I'd hate to see entirely justified loathing of the Franchise deprive a supporter-owned club facing an uncertain future from getting a much needed cash injection.

Yes, without doubt. I have some fantastic memories of Cambridge City, including clinching the Southern League title at Milton Road back in 03. They were fantastic hosts, letting us on the pitch, letting our players come out on the stand to take the applause of the fans, letting us celebrate in their clubhouse after the game.
Any other time I would gladly see them get the revenue from such a tie, but televising the franchise just helps to further legitimise the parasitic cunts.

Stevenage at home. Oh well. Maybe I'll get to see an FA Cup game next season...

Very happy with Bristol Rogers away. Good ale in Bristol and a new ground as well.

Did you mean to make that typo?

Yes, surely it's Brizzle Rogerzz?

No, wish I had though.