Minnows in the Cup.

The third round of the FA Cup begins on the 2nd of January.  This being the round when the Premier league teams enter the competition.  However the focus of this blog is on the record breaking nine non-league clubs (clubs outside of the top four divisions in English football) still in the FA cup.  This betters the six non league clubs that made it to the 3rd round of the FA cup thirty years in the 1977 - 78 season.

Barrow, nickname the bluebirds, were founded in 1901 and currently play in the conference (4 divisions below the Premier League).  Their home ground is known as Holker Street with a capacity of 4256, however in 1959 when Barrow played the then mighty Wolverhampton Wanderers in an FA Cup 3rd round tie they were able to squeeze in 16,340.  Barrow's highest ever league finish was 8th in the league currently known as League 1. So far in the FA cup Barrow have beaten Tamworth, Eastbourne Borough and Brentford.  Reaching the FA cup 3rd round this season equals their best ever performance in the cup. Barrow will be playing away at Middlesborough on the 3rd of January hoping to continue their run in the cup.  

Forest Green Rovers, nicknames include Rovers, The Green, FGR and The little Club on the Hill, were founded in 1890 and play in the conference. Their home ground is The New Lawn where they have been playing since the start of the 2006-07 season, moving from their old ground which was known as The Lawn Ground. Forest Green Rovers have never progressed past the conference. So far in their FA Cup run they have defeated Ashford Town, Team Bath and Rochdale. Reaching the 3rd round in the cup is their best ever cup run. The New Lawn will be hosting Forest Green Rovers biggest ever match when they play Derby County on the 3rd of January for the 3rd round cup tie.

Histon, nickname The Stutes, were founded in 1904 and currently play in the conference. They play at Bridge Road, the record crowd for this ground (4,103) occurred during this cup run when they defeated Leeds in the second round 1-0. Histon have never been higher than the conference. As well as defeating Leeds in this cup run they have also got past Durham City and Swindon Town. This has been their best ever cup run. They will be hosting Swansea City in the third round of the cup. 

Kettering Town, nickname The Poppies, were founded in 1872 and play in the conference. Their ground is Rockingham Road with a capacity of 6,170. Kettering Town is the club where famous manager Ron Atkinson began his managerial career in the early seventies. Kettering Town's best ever cup run was back in 1901 when they reached the last 16. However in more recent times their best cup run occurred in the 1988/89 season when they made the fourth round. Conference Football is the best level Kettering Town has played at. They have already beaten Burton Albion, Lincoln  City and Notts County in this FA Cup. They will host fellow non-league team Eastwood Town in the third round. 

Kidderminster Harriers, nickname the Harriers, were founded in 1886 and currently play in the conference. Their ground is Aggborough it has a capacity of 6,238. Aggborough was the ground where the first ever floodlit FA Cup match was held in 1955 when the Harriers hosted Brierley Hill Alliance in a preliminary round replay. Kidderminster's best ever FA cup result was when they made the 5th round in the 1993/94 season. League 2 is the highest division Kidderminster have played in. In this current cup run they have beaten Kings Lynn, Cambridge United and Curzon Ashton. In the third round Kidderminster will be playing away against Coventry City.

Torquay United, nickname the Gulls were founded in 1899 and play in the conference.  They play their home matches at Plainmoor Stadium which has a capacity of 6,104.  Famous former Manchester United player Lee Sharpe began his career at Torquay.  Their greatest ever cup run occurred in the 1954/55 season where they reached the 4th round.  Torquay were to lose 1-0 to Huddersfield Town in front of their own record attendance of 21,908.  Torquay United's best ever league finish is 3rd in league two which they most recently achieved in the 2003/04 season. So far in this cup run Torquay have beaten Chipstead FC, Evesham United and Oxford United.  For the third round match up Torquay will be hosting Blackpool. 

    

Eastwood Town, nickname the Badgers, were founded in 1953 and play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division (which is 6 divisions below the Premier League).  This is the highest division Eastwood Town have ever played in. They play at Coronation Park which has a capacity of 2500. This is Eastwood Town's best ever FA Cup run. To reach the third round Eastwood Town have already defeated Kidsgrove Athletic FC, Lincoln United, Harrogate Town FC, Wrexham, Brackley Town and Wycombe Wanderers . In the third round they will be facing Kettering Town away.

Blyth Spartans, nickname the Spartans, were founded in 1899 and play in Conference North (5 divisions below the Premier League) this is the highest division they have ever played in. Their home ground is Croft Park which has a capacity of 4,400. Blyth Spartan's best ever cup run was in the 1977-78 season when they reached the 5th round losing 2-1 in a replay to Wrexham.  So far in thier current cup run the Spartans have defeated Whitby Town, Buxton FC, Sheffield FC, Shrewsbury Town and AFC Bournemouth.  Blyth Spartans will be hosting premier league club Blackburn Rovers in the third round.

Droylsden, nickname the Bloods, were founded in 1892 and currently play in Conference North. The Conference is the highest league Droylsden have ever participated in.  They play their matches at the Butcher's Arms Ground which has a capacity of 3,000.  The current FA cup run is Droylsden's most successful.  They have already defeated Bradford (Park Avenue) FC, Gateshead FC, Belper Town FC, Darlington and Chesterfield.  In the third round Droylsden will be playing Ispwich Town away.  As of the 31st of December Droylsden been removed from the FA Cup for fielding an ineligible player.  They are being replaced in the cup by Chesterfield.           

For the fans of these non-league teams seeing their team play in the third round of the FA cup will probably be one of the best presents they will receive this year, and since none of them are playing Liverpool I wish them good luck!   

To everybody else Merry Christmas. 

The Mac Australian Football blog would like to thank Alex Bryant for her assistance with this post.