Chelmsford City enter into the Tolleshunt D’Arcy Memorial Cup on Tuesday night when they travel to Essex Senior League outfit Stansted FC with a 7.45pm kickoff at Hargrave Park.
The Tolleshunt D’Arcy Cup is a traditional charity invitational competition to raise money for the Essex County FA Benevolent Fund. Only 8 teams entered the competition this year so all teams enter into the quarter-final stage. The whole draw is as follows:
Heybridge Swifts or Witham Town vs Stansted or Chelmsford City
Halstead Town 0-2 Saffron Walden Town vs Little Oakley or Wivenhoe Town
The opposition
Stansted are 14th in the 20 team Essex Senior League after playing 9 games so far this term. They were a founding member of the Essex Senior League in 1971, when they finished bottom of the then 9 team division, only picking up 2 points, back in the 2 points for a win days! They did win the division in 2010 but failed to get promoted due to Hargrave Park not meeting the correct ground criteria for the division above. In the last two completed seasons of the Essex Senior League they have finished 2nd and then 4th so it has been a disappointing start for the Airportmen so far this campaign.
Stansted have had a decent season in cup competitions though with them progressing through to the 2nd round of the Essex Senior Cup where they will have a home tie to get through to the round where all the Isthmian, National and EFL clubs come in. They are still in the FA Vase, a competition they won in 1984, and they have progressed to the 1st round proper and they have an away tie at Downham Town from Norfolk, who do play in a division below Stansted. The Blues have been strong at home with only 1 defeat in 8 in all competitions on their own patch this year.
In terms of players, Jack Mitchell is their top scorer with 9 goals, whilst Michael Mignot has 5. Paul Pittuck is the manager.
Stansted’s most famous export is arguably Dwight Gayle who went on to play for Crystal Palace, West Brom and Newcastle and is now plying his trade for Stoke City in the Championship. Gayle scored 57 goals for Stansted in the 2010-11 season which got him a move into the EFL with Dagenham & Redbridge.
Team News
Chelmsford City manager Robbie Simpson will select from a mixture of first-teamers who require some minutes, reserve players who have impressed as well as some of the promising youngsters from the club’s academy side.
Ticket News
Entrance is on the gate for the 7.45pm kickoff. Tickets are £8 for adults, £4 concessions and Under 14s are free. Hot food will be available and the bar will be open. Car parking is limited at the ground but parking is available in the surrounding areas with short walk to the ground but please park considerately.
To get to Hargrave Park take the A120 to Bishop’s Stortford then take the B1383 to Stansted Mounfitchet. The ground is on the left hand side just past the main high street of the village.
Where to follow the game…
The Club will be providing coverage of the game on Twitter (@OfficialClarets) using the hashtag #TheClarets.
There will also be live audio commentary from Radio Clarets.
Post-match reports and interviews will be found on the club website, social media and ClaretsTV following the game.
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