Match Preview

It’s a cup double-header for Blues this weekend

The Grays Athletic men’s and women’s 1st XIs are both in cup action this weekend, making for an exciting double-header for the club.

Starting with a historic day for our Women’s 1st XI on Sunday who are making their debut in the Women’s FA Cup. It is a sign of the progress that our women’s and girls’ section has made in recent years that the senior women’s team is now eligible for the premier female knock-out competition. Last season, the Women’s FA Cup final was played in front of a full-house at Wembley Stadium (which included your reporter !) with the trophy won 1-0 by Chelsea against Manchester United, with a TV audience of millions watching from their sofas. And whilst an appearance on the hallowed turf might be setting sights a little high, just to be part of this is a great achievement for our women’s set-up.

In the first qualifying round, we play Chelmsford City Women, who ply their trade in the Essex County Women’s League, one level in the pyramid below Grays Ath (having elected not to take a promotion won at the end of last season. Like the Blues, Chelmsford CIty run a number of age group teams for women and girls and their 1st XI have been successful in recent years at county level.

The winners of this tie have the prospect of a second qualifying round fixture against Luton Town Women, whose men’s side of course are currently in the Premier League.

Kick off for this historic game for our club is at 2pm on Sunday at Tilbury’s EMR Stadium. Entry is just £5 (which includes a commemorative matchday programme), with juniors just £1.

Come along and give Amanda and her team all the support they deserve.

A day earlier, on Saturday, Mark Stimson takes his men’s 1st XI to Hertford Town for an FA Trophy First Qualifying Round encounter. The words Stimson, Grays Athletic and FA Trophy are etched into the minds of every diehard Blues supporter. The final wins at Villa Park and Upton Park in 2005 and 2006 will never be forgotten.

But that was then and this is now. Our opponents on Saturday, Hertford Town play at the same level of the pyramid as the Blues, but in the Southern League Central Division, where they have already played five league games this season. Strangely both home fixtures have ended in defeat, including on Bank Holiday Monday to near neighbours, and Mitch Hahn’s new team, of Ware. Conversely, Hertford are undefeated on their travels, with two wins and a draw.

There have been only five previous encounters between the Blues and Hertford, and we are yet to come out on top. Our only one league season together was in 2017/18 when Hertford took the spoils at home and came away with a 1-1 draw at Parkside. Ooh Jamie Slabber scoring for the Blues. That same season, Hertford came out on top in an FA Cup 1st qualifying round tie. A 1-1 draw at Hertingfordbury Park, was followed by a feisty, seven yellow card, 3-2 extra time win at Parkside for Hertford. Our only other meeting was back i 1987 at The Rec again in the FA Cup 1st qualifying round, when the visitors went away with a 3-1 win.

Both sides made an early exit from this year’s FA Cup, so will be looking for some recompense in the Trophy. This is a competition very close to the hearts of all Blues supporters and we expect every ounce of effort.

Hertford play at Hertingfordbury Park, West, Hertford SG13 8EZ which has a new 3G playing surface. Directions (courtesy of the Hertford Town web site) can be found here:
https://www.hertfordtownfc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/HTFC-entry-directions.pdf - note that West Street is very narrow and the ground is best approached via Bullocks Lane to the north.