On Friday 14th August, the FA Cup gets under way yet again. The first games to take place this season, albeit by 15 minutes, are the two fascinating Extra Preliminary round ties in which Eton Manor entertain Stanway Rovers and Hertford Town play hosts to Newport Pagnell Town.

On the surface these games may not seem the most fascinating of ties, but all four sides know they could be just 13 games away from playing at Wembley. Of course, the first team to play a FA Cup game at Wembley this season will be Basildon Town – but, that’s against Wembley FC. Eton Manor manager, Kevin Durrant, is regularly quoted on their website and knows that “We must tighten up defensively” and that “The next three games are important to us”. At Stanway Rovers, cup fever has swept through The Hawthorns. It’s an exciting month or so for their fans as the Quiz for £1 and an appearance by Lennon & McCartney (or is just words by Lennon & McCartney?) follow the day out to Eton Manor (the bus leaves at 4.45).

For Newport Pagnell, you would think it was a big day out too, but there seems to be less enthusiasm despite the fact Pablo Ardiles, the son of the legendary Ossie, is manager of Hertford Town. Apparently, the game has been moved to Friday just so that the TV crews can see Ossie with the real FA Cup on display.

Below, a team photo of the Stanway Rovers team when they were presumably struggling for numbers.