RYMAN LEAGUE IN THE FA CUP - UPDATE

REPRESENTING THE RYMAN LEAGUE IN THE FA CUP

Just two Ryman League clubs remain in the FA Cup this season in East Thurrock United and Maidstone United. Both have trips away from home to League Two sides in Hartlepool United and Stevenage.

Since promotion to the football league in 2010 The Boro have a good record in the competition reaching the Fourth Round in 2010/11 famously beating Premier League Newcastle United in the Third Round at Broadhall Way. In 2011/12 they got to the Fifth Round holding Tottenham Hotspur to a 0-0 draw at home followed by a 3-1 defeat at White Hart Lane in front of 35,757 people . In 2012/13 they were knocked out by Rotherham United in the First Round and last season got through to the Fourth Round where they were knocked out 4-0 by Everton at Goodison Park. So it's a fact they, as a football league side, have never lost to a non-league side. They are currently in fifteenth place in League Two and travel to 23rd placed Tranmere Rovers on Saturday. Ex Enfield FC manger Graham Westley is the boss. The Stones will no doubt bring a very large vocal support to Hertfordshire which will be one of the biggest away followings at Broadhall Way this season.

Hartlepool United have played several non-league clubs over the past few years. The most recent game was in 2010/11 when they played Conference North side Vauxhall Motors drawing 0-0 at home and winning 1-0 in the replay away from home. In 2009/10 Kettering Town visited Victoria Park and performed a giant killing winning 0-1. There have been other defeats against non-league side's in 'recent' times as well as in 1973 v Altricham, 1971 v Boston United and 1970 v Rhyl as well a few way back in time. The more recent games came in 2005/06 Tamworth H (2nd Round) L 1-2 and 1985/86 Frickley Athletic H (2nd Round) L 0-1.

Hartlepool United are currently bottom of League Two winning just three of their fifteen games played against Shrewsbury Town (H 2-0) along with away victories at Exeter City (1-2) and AFC Wimbledon (1-2). They are at home to Newport County this Saturday. They have recently changed manager with Colin Cooper leaving the club to be replaced by Paul Murray. This is 38 year old Murray's first job in management having had a playing career which started at Carlise United in 1994 and ended at Oldham Athletic in 2013. In 1996 Queens Park Rangers paid £300,000 for his services from Carlise United and he has represented the England U21 side four times and England B team once. 

THE COLD END WISHES BOTH MAIDSTONE UNITED AND EAST THURROCK UNITED THE BEST OF LUCK IN THEIR CUP ADVENTURES.  The games are due to be played on the weekend of Saturday 8th November.