After a strong run of results in the National League, County’s attention turns to the Emirates FA Cup this weekend as we welcome eighth tier Stamford AFC to Edgeley Park, with a place in the First Round at stake.
That 1-0 win against Aldershot last weekend was enough to lift us to 10th in the National League – three points off the play-off places and nine from the top, but with a game in hand on seven of the nine sides above us in the table.
This will be our first game in the FA Cup this season, and our first FA Cup tie with fans present at Edgeley Park since beating Altrincham 2-0 at this stage in October 2018. We will be looking to reach the First Round proper in consecutive seasons for the first time since relegation from the Football League in 2011, after making it as far as the Third Round last season.
Stamford, on the other hand, have had to win five games already just to reach this round, having booked their place with victory over Norwich United last time out, and The Daniels will be aiming to reach the First Round for just the second time in the club’s history.
Tickets for this game are available to buy online, at just £6 for adults and £1 for concessions. Click here to buy yours today.
Our Opponents:
Stamford AFC, founded in 1896, are commonly referred to as ‘The Daniels’ after famous former local resident Daniel Lambert, who was believed to be Britain’s heaviest ever man at 52 stone 11 pounds. The Lincolnshire side currently ply their trade in the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands, the eighth tier of English football, where they have played since relegation from the Northern Premier League Premier Division in 2016.
They are currently under the management of club legend Graham Drury, with the former Boston boss now in his third spell in charge of the club that he first joined all the way back in 2004.
He has been back at the Zeeco Stadium since 2016, signing a new two-year deal in February, and it was him in charge when the club last reached the First Round of the cup, famously beating Wrexham 3-2 in a replay at the Racecourse Ground in 2016 to book their place, before going on to lose to Hartlepool United.
The last two seasons have been frustrating for Drury and his side in the league, as disruption from the Covid pandemic has twice seen them denied a chance at promotion back to the Premier Division. In 2019/20 they were in 2nd place and just two points behind the league leaders Leek Town with nine games to go when the season was declared null and void, and were unbeaten seven games in last season before suffering the same fate.
They have continued to be successful in cup competitions however after reaching the Fourth Round of the FA Trophy last season, beating National League North Kidderminster Harriers along the way before losing to eventual runners-up Hereford United.
The side currently sit seventh in the Division One Midlands table after their recent win away at Cambridge City, with six wins, one draw and three defeats from their ten league games so far. They are currently two points off the play-off places, with a game in hand.
Stamford are also the last side remaining from the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup this season, with their own road to Wembley beginning on the 7th August with a 2-0 win over Oadby Town in front of 60 spectators.
They have since gone on to beat Lincoln United and Redditch United, stun National League North AFC Telford, before securing their place in the final qualifying round by beating Norwich United last time out, to set up a dream tie at Edgeley Park this weekend.
Match Stats:
- This will be the first ever meeting between County and Stamford AFC, in any competition.
- John Rooney has scored four goals in his last four FA Cup appearances for the club, three of them coming at Edgeley Park.
- This game will be Simon Rusk’s first as a manager in the FA Cup. His best run as a player came during his time at Crawley Town, where he reached the fifth round with the then non-league club, eventually losing 1-0 at Manchester United.
