It’s that time of the season again as FA Vase fever hits the Oldhaulage Stadium. This season we welcome Garstang FC to the Tyne Valley in a 2nd Qualifying Round tie, as we play host in a cup tie again (currently seven home draws in a row in cup competitions) . Garstang, which is roughly equidistant from Blackpool and Preston, play in the North West Counties League First Division North, which is Step 6, the same as the Northern League 2nd Division, but while RACA sit in third from top in NL2, Garstang are third from bottom of their division so on standings & current form, Albion should be fancied to progress. However that combo of cup football and playing teams from a different part of the pyramid can seriously cloud the issue so an Albion win is far from guaranteed. Garstang will be the 7th NWCL side we’ve faced over the years in the FA Vase, the most recent being Cheadle Town who beat us 5-3 last season, although they were from the Premier League, a level above Garstang. This is such an important fixture for clubs our size, as thanks to Isuzu’s generous sponsorship of the competition, the winners of the tie stand to win £975, a very welcome cash injection for whoever wins the game. For the optimists amongst the ranks we are only eight wins from a Wembley appearance, but realistically speaking each round we can progress from brings increasing prizemoney plus the prestige of progressing in a national competition and the opportunity of a fun away trip if we can stop being drawn at home in these cup competitions. Today’s game will be resolved one way or another with no replay and the game going to penalties if level after 90 minutes.

We’ll be producing a match day programme for this game so if you do intend coming you can pick one up at the entrance hut. Really hope we can get a good turnout for this game to cheer on the black and blue. HOWAY THE RACA!