This weekend Grays Athletic play their first competitive game of the 2024-25 season, straight into the Extra-Preliminary Round of the FA Cup against our visitors from Hullbridge Sports. Unfortunately, this year we enter the competition in the earliest round, alongside the Step 5 teams due to our low league finish last season.

Hullbridge Sports were established in the immediate post WWII period and spent the next four decades or so playing in local leagues around Essex. Not until 1990, did they move up to the Essex Senior League, which was to be their competition for almost the next thirty years. WInning the ESL in 2018-19 earned promotion to the Isthmian League for the first time in their history. Their three year stay co-incided with the covid seasons, which was unfortunate. Sadly, a bottom place finish in 2023 led to a return to the ESL for last season, which they completed mid-table.

This season, Hullbridge have come out of the blocks very smartly. The ESL started last weekend and their two fixtures this week have seen a return of nine goals and six points, sitting at the top of the table, at this very early stage.

Apart from a few pre-season friendlies over the years, our two clubs have met in one FA Cup tie, nine years ago, which Grays won 6-0 thanks to hat-tricks from Dumebi Dumaka and Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson - together with five league encounters (another falling victim to covid), of which Grays have won four and Hullbridge one.

Despite what a very few of the country’s mega clubs might think, the FA Cup is still one of the most important occasions for the vast majority of teams across the leagues and divisions. At the start of each season, the dream of every fan at every club is for a headlining cup run. And the Grays Ath terraces are no different. Sadly, in recent years, the Blues have reserved some of their worst performances for the FA Cup. The mention of New Salamis, Shefford Town & Campton and Baldock Town will send a shiver down the spine of many a Blues supporter.

However, Darren Manning has assembled a squad full of character and perseverance and the Blues will hope to progress against lower league opposition. That said, nothing will be taken for granted and Hullbridge will, equally, be looking to take a scalp and Grays will need to be on their mettle to avoid the proverbial banana-skin.

The game takes place at Tilbury FC on Sunday 4th August. Kick off is at 1pm.

Come on you Blues !