Tilbury FC v Chelmsford City FC, FA Cup Second Qualifying Round, The EMR Stadium, Saturday 14th September 2024, 3:00pm kick-off.
Chelmsford City kick-off their 2024-25 FA Cup campaign with a second qualifying round tie away to Isthmian North League outfit Tilbury FC on Saturday afternoon.
Like usual, the Clarets have entered the competition at the second qualifying round stage, while Tilbury started their FA Cup journey in early August, when they overcame Buckhurst Hill in the extra preliminary round.
In the following preliminary round and first qualifying round of the competition, Marc Harrison’s men went on to respectively beat Stanway Rovers and Brantham Athletic, setting up this weekend’s all-Essex second qualifying round clash.
Here’s all that Clarets supporters need to know ahead of the game…
Team & match stats:
- Chelmsford City’s last loss at this stage of the FA Cup came in the 2020-21 season, when Robbie Simpson’s side were defeated by Kettering Town.
- In the past three seasons, the Clarets have overcome Little Oakley, King’s Langley and Ware in the FA Cup second qualifying round.
- Saturday’s game will mark Tilbury’s first FA Cup second qualifying round tie in over 10 years – the last time the Dockers reached this stage of the competition was in 2013-14, when they lost 3-0 to Grays Athletic.
- Tilbury and Chelmsford City last met in the FA Cup back in the 2000-01 season during a first qualifying round tie. City ran out 3-1 winners that day, courtesy of a Steve Portway hat trick.
Opposition:
Tilbury FC will hope a positive twelve months on the pitch can culminate in the club achieving an FA Cup upset this weekend, which would see the Dockers reach the third qualifying round of the competition for the first time since the turn of the century. Marc Harrison and Liam Wallace’s side bounced back from their relegation out of the Isthmian North League in April 2023 by securing an instant return to the division less than a year later, when they ended 2023-24 as Essex Senior League champions. The positive momentum generated by last season’s success has continued inside the first month of the 23-24 campaign; Harrison and Wallace’s squad have put together a cup run which has set up Tilbury’s first second qualifying round FA Cup tie since 2013.
Key to Tilbury’s campaign so far this season have been attackers Alex Akrofi, Sam Bantick and Lewis Manor. The attacking trio have netted 11 of the 13 goals scored by the Dockers this season in the nine competitive matches they have completed since their campaign started on August 3rd. However, 33-year-old Manor, who has played in the National League South for Concord Rangers and Dartford during in recent years, looks set to miss this weekend’s match. The forward sustained a serious injury in Tilbury’s win over Brantham Athletic last week, meaning he will be sidelined for an extended period of time.
Team News:
Cameron James and Geofrey Okonkwo are continuing to progress in their recoveries from respective knee injuries.
Ryan Blackman looks set to remain sidelined by a problem he picked up during last month’s game against Truro City.
Defender Jack Turner has joined Isthmian League Premier outfit Bowers & Pitsea FC on a one-month loan deal.
✍🏻 Turner are the ready
— Bowers & Pitsea FC (@Bowerspitseafc) September 6, 2024
Jack Turner joins us on a one month loan deal from Chelmsford. The youngster was previously at Barking before being scouted by Burnley at 18.
We appreciate the support from @OfficialClarets for their support in getting Jack over the line.#UpTheBowers pic.twitter.com/dLRMOFhGaL
Getting there:
Supporters travelling by car to Saturday’s game should know that the journey from the EMJ Community Stadium to the EMR Stadium takes around half an hour. There is ample parking at the ground and in the surrounding roads.
The Chelmsford City Supporters Club coach travelling to Saturday’s game is full.
Ticketing information:
Ticket prices for Saturday’s FA Cup game are as follows:
- Adults: £10
- Concessions: £7
- Under-16s: £2
FA Cup rules:
If Saturday’s game ends in a draw after 90 minutes has been completed, then both sides will meet in a replay which will be played at the EMJ Community Stadium. This replay would take place on Monday 16th September 2024, and kick-off at 7:30pm.
How to follow the game:
Radio Clarets will provide live audio commentary of proceedings at the EMR Stadium.
Clarets fans can find pre-match coverage of Saturday’s match and live updates of proceedings in Essex by following the club’s X (formerly Twitter) page: @OfficialClarets and Instagram page: chelmsfordcityfc.
Post-match reactions will be found on the club’s website, official social media channels and on ClaretsTV.
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