The FA Trophy Preliminary Round Draw.

[Rick B]

Here are a list of fixtures for the FA Trophy Preliminary Round Draw

The FA Trophy
Preliminary Round
Saturday 9 October 2004 - 3.00pm



1
Clitheroe
v
Kendal Town

2
North Ferriby United
v
Brigg Town

3
Gresley Rovers
v
Spalding United

4
Warrington Town
v
Ossett Albion

5
Kidsgrove Athletic
v
AFC Telford United

6
Belper Town
v
Rossendale United

7
Woodley Sports
v
Ilkeston Town

8
Stocksbridge Park Steels
v
Chorley

9
Corinthian Casuals
v
Banstead Athletic

10
Cray Wanderers
v
Aveley

11
Horsham
v
Uxbridge

12
Dartford
v
Leatherhead

13
AFC Wimbledon
v
Metropolitan Police

14
Bashley
v
Ashford Town

15
Hastings United
v
East Thurrock United

16
Great Wakering Rovers
v
Maldon Town

17
Barton Rovers
v
Wivenhoe Town

18
Burgess Hill Town
v
Wingate & Finchley

19
Berkhamsted Town
v
Waltham Forest

20
Bromley
v
Chatham Town

21
Barking & East Ham United
v
Fisher Athletic

22
Arlesey Town
v
Croydon Athletic

23
Newport IW
v
Tooting & Mitcham United

24
Fleet Town
v
Tilbury

25
Erith & Belvedere
v
Harlow Town

26
Beaconsfield SYCOB
v
Boreham Wood

27
Sittingbourne
v
Leighton Town

28
Taunton Town
v
Marlow

29
Corby Town
v
Brackley Town

30
Ashford Town (Middx)
v
Evesham United

31
Thame United
v
Egham Town

32
Bromsgrove Rovers
v
Burnham

33
Yate Town
v
Swindon Supermarine



Match dates

All ties must be played on Saturday 9 October 2004, kick-off 3.00 pm with replays on or before Thursday 14 October 2004, kick-off 7.45 pm. Home Clubs must ensure that The Match Arrangement Form is received by the FA Competitions Department no later than Monday 13 September 2004. Fax to 020 7287 5189.

Player qualification date

The player qualification date is 12 noon on Friday 8 October 2004, this includes replays and postponements.

[Rick B]

About the F.A. Trophy

In 1969 The Football Association introduced The FA Challenge Trophy, a knock-out competition for non-League clubs with the incentive of an appearance at Wembley for the finalists.

With amateur clubs still being afforded that opportunity in The FA Amateur Cup (until 1974 when the competition was last played), it was felt that clubs with professional players, who could only enter The FA Cup, should have a more realistic chance of making it to the famed Twin Towers.

Entries for the first Trophy competition in 1969-70 included eight clubs who were destined to enter the Football League: Barnet, Cambridge United, Hereford United, Kidderminster Harriers, Macclesfield Town, Scarborough, Wimbledon and Wigan Athletic. Macclesfield beat Telford United 2-0 in the first final, watched by 28,000 at Wembley.

Three clubs have now won the Trophy two years in a row: Scarborough (1976 and 1977), Woking (1994 and 1995) and Kingstonian (1999 and 2000). Veteran winger Clive Walker, a former professional with 500 League appearances under his belt, has collected four Trophy winners' medals, three with Woking and one with Cheltenham Town

Martin O'Neill took Wycombe Wanderers to two successful finals and their match with Kidderminster Harriers in 1991 attracted 34,842 fans for the Trophy record

Now, since Wembley's closure, The Trophy Final has moved to Villa Park, where in 2003 Burscough beat Tamworth 2-1.

Last season, underdogs Hednesford Town were crowned as Trophy winners beating Canvey Island 3-2 in the Final. The Essex side had romped to the Ryman League championship but were seen off by the Dr Marten's League club who finished in the bottom three of the Premier Division.

A glorious winning goal from assistant player manager Chris Brindley with three minutes to go sealed the 3-2 win and cancelled out his earlier own-goal.