We’ve got a very good side so we’d like to think the prize of winning that is Chertsey Town at home, which is quite appetising for us, says Snodland Town assistant Graham Martin

SNODLAND TOWN assistant manager Graham Martin says Saturday's FA Cup debut marks a very special occasion for the newly-promoted club.

 

Luke Wallond’s men made it a winning debut in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division as two first-half goals, from Ben Davisson’s penalty and a Sam Smith own-goal, gave them a comfortable 2-0 home win over Stansfeld.

Snodland Town go into Saturday’s debut FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round tie in fifth-place after their first 90 minutes in the ninth-tier.

Harrow based outfit Broadfields United have yet kicked off their Combined Counties League Premier Division North campaign and the winners are at home to Isthmian League South Central Division side Chertsey Town on Saturday 19 August.

“A bit of an unknown. I’ve never been there, I don’t know them, I know nothing about Broadfields,” admitted Martin.

“I think having that first competitive league game against Stansfeld under our belts and getting three points, it will be in our favour with Broadfields going into their first game.

“The FA Cup is very special. It would’ve been nice to have been drawn at home in the first round. That’s the first time we’ve been in it, everyone’s looking forward to it.

“The club do a lot for us and we’ll be travelling quite heavy with supporters so the club are looking forward to it.  Hopefully we can produce something, a bit of finance.  They’ve given us every chance here to go and get a result there.

“We’ve got a very good side so we’d like to think the prize of winning that is Chertsey Town at home, which is quite appetising for us. 

“They’re going to be good, strong and they’ll know what it’s all about so if we can get something, if we don’t lose, it will be nice to bring them back here, let’s get it done.

“We’re quite confident having a good away day and coming here with something.  We’re looking forward to the game against Chertsey, if that’s the case.”

Wallond has signed some very high calibre players for their maiden campaign in the ninth-tier and keeping all 23 of them happy will be a challenge.

Martin said: “I think the higher up you go, the better the player, they understand a bit more.

“Everyone at this level, they all go to work in the week and they look forward to their Saturday and they all want to play football.

“I think we’re going to pick up a few more on the way and lose a few on the way.  The five on the bench all could’ve easily started, that’s the strength of the squad at the moment.

“Luke had a little bit of a hard job a couple of days before the game to pick the team but I thought even the ones who wasn’t in the 16 are all capable of starting.”

Visit Snodland Town’s website:  www.snodlandtownfc.org

Broadfields United  v  Snodland Town
The Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
Saturday 5 August 2023
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Tithe Farm Sports & Social Club, 151 Rayners Lane, Harrow, Middlesex HA2 0XH