This weekend is the when the 1st Round of the FA cup begins. The first round is when the first set of league teams come into the draw and the first chance for some memorable upsets to be achieved for the lower sides. I thought I would take a look back at some of the unforgettable stories some non-league teams have accomplished in the past.
1- Havant And Waterlooville 2007/08- The then Conference South side started there cup run in the second qualifying round when they played against Bognor Regis and they ended up in the 4th round proper against Liverpool. On the way to Anfield ‘The Hawks’ saw off Fleet Town, Leighton Town and then they beat league teams Notts County and Swansea; where they beat the Swans 4-2 in a Replay. Then they went to Anfield where they were backed by 6000 away fans they took the lead twice in the tie at 1-0 and 2-1 but sadly in ended in a 5-2 loss and the amazing run was over. They have a chance to cause another cup upset, when the play Preston in the 1st Round this Monday.
2- Crawley Town 2010/11- The then big spending conference side went all the way to the 5th Round and earned a glamour tie at Old Trafford. They were flying in the conference under new owners and Steve Evans side had beaten Guiseley, Swindon, Derby and Torquay on their Journey to Manchester and they certainly put on a great display at Old Trafford, too only losing 1-0 to the Giants and it could of been so different with Striker Richard Brodie hitting the bar with a 93rd minute header. They went onto gain promotion that season and are now in League 1.
3- Blyth Spartans 1977/78- This unbelievable and maybe the best cup run of all time from the then Northern League side started in the 1st Qualifying Round when they played Shildon and an amazing 10 games later they found themselves playing in the 5th round in front of 42,000. They beat relegated top flight sides Stoke and Chesterfield on the way and ended up against Wrexham in the 5th round where they drew 1-1 away from home; and the North East side played the replay at St James Park where they lost out 2-1. They still play in the Northern League and have made it to the 1st round again this season and they play Altrincham on Sunday.
4- Chasetown 2007/08- The Staffordshire side are the lowest ranked side ever to reach the FA Cup 3rd round, being from the British Gas Business Southern League Midland Division (the eighth tier of the league system). They started there run in Mid September with a 4-1 win over Oadby Town beating Staffordshire rivals Port Vale 1-0 on the way and ended up playing eventual finalists Cardiff in the 3rd Round in front of a bumper 2420 crowd at The Scholar Ground. They went ahead in the tie but eventually lost 3- 1 to a 17 year old Aaron Ramsey inspired Welsh side.
5- Sutton United 1988-89-They are the last team from Non League to beat a top division side. The then conference side beat Walton & Hersham, Dagenham and Aylesbury United on the way to the 3rd round tie with the Sky Blues of Coventry. Goals from Tony Rains and Matthew Hanlan helped the south west side to a 2-1 win over the top division side who had won the competition just 18 months before.
So will there be any giant killings this weekend? Will there be any runs from non league sides which land them in big money ties? Will we see someone finally match Sutton and beat a top flight side?
Source: DSG
