The Road to Wembley - My Team This Season Little Common FC

It only seems a while ago I was sitting back watching the FA Cup final when Arsenal beat London rivals Chelsea 2–1. A few days ago, the draw for the Extra-Preliminary Round occurred so it all begins again. Clubs from Level 9 and 10 enter this early around.

No Welsh team in this opening round but North Wales club Colwyn Bay will be in the draw next time.

I perused the list looking for a team to follow and start my armchair road to Wembley. This season there were 370 teams to choose from with their campaigns starting their in or around Saturday 5 August. That is 185 extra preliminary round ties will be played.

By now anyone who reads my blog and has an interest in football and the FA Cup no, I love to follow teams from the start of the FA Cup in August until the May final. I do the same with the Welsh Cup

I like to look for a team with the stupidest name or one that jumps out at me. This time it was the 18 clubs playing in the FA Cup for the first time at interested me. However which one to choose? Straight out Biggleswade FC just jumped out at me along with Little Common FC but which one. I could have a simple draw/toss a coin heads (Biggleswade) and tails (Little Common FC)… It was tails and the latter will be playing Eastbourne United on Saturday 5 August.

Little Common were formed in 1966 as Albion United and changed their name to Little Common Albion after the 1985/86 season dropping the Albion later. Little Common whose ground failed a ground inspection entered a ground sharing deal with Eastbourne United to safe them being demoted down a league. So the game will be a double home game with Eastbourne United the away team.

The fact they are playing at Eastbourne meant they could enter the FA Cup. Below is a list of the 18 clubs losing their FA Cup virginity it will be interesting to see if any make it into the next draw? The information below was sauced for the FA website .... (Full Fixture List)

• AC London FC – Academic Club London were formed in 2012 and are based in Tadworth, Surrey. They will take on Crawley Down Gatwick at home.
• Bearsted FC - Based just outside Maidstone in Kent and originally formed way back in 1895, Bearsted play in the Southern Counties East League premier and will make their FA Cup bow away to Eastbourne Town.
• Biggleswade FC – A first Emirates FA Cup appearance in only the second season for the Bedfordshire outfit, who were formed in May 2016 by members of the former Biggleswade Town FC U18s side. They will host Wisbech Town.
• Birstall United FC – Founded in 1961, this is the first Emirates FA Cup adventure for the Leicestershire club who play in the East Midlands Counties League. They will face South Normanton Athletic in their Cup debut.
• City of Liverpool FC – Formed in 2015, the Purps become the latest team from Merseyside to enter the Emirates FA Cup this season. The North West Counties side will travel to Padiham, near Burnley, for their first game.
• Charnock Richard FC – A familiar name to anyone who has travelled on the M6 in Lancashire, the Chorley-based club were originally formed in 1933 and are now preparing for their Cup bow, against Penistone Church at home.
• Eversley & California FC – Formed in 2012 when Eversley FC from Hampshire and California FC from Berkshire merged. Their first game in the Cup comes on the road against Amesbury Town.
• Framlingham Town FC – The Castlemen get their first Emirates FA Cup experience this term, but will be one of the competition’s oldest clubs having been formed in 1877. The Eastern Counties League side will play Wadham Lodge at home in the extra preliminary round.
• Litherland Remyca FC – The Merseyside club were initially formed in 1959 as St. Thomas before their current moniker was adopted in 2013. They will play a local derby with AFC Liverpool on their Cup debut.
• Little Common FC - Based in Bexhill, East Sussex and competitors in the Southern Combination Division One, they will take on Eastbourne United at home.
• Kimberley MW FC - The Nottinghamshire outfit’s full name represents Miners Welfare, after the club was formed in 1926. After playing in the FA Vase last year, this is their first tilt in the Cup. They will play Blaby & Whetstone Athletic at home.
• Rusthall FC – The Kentish club play their football in the Southern Counties East League and are based in Royal Tunbridge Wells. They will play CB Hounslow United at the Jockey Stadium.
• Stockton Town FC – The Teesside club start their Emirates FA Cup journey with a short trip to Guisborough Town, after previously entering the FA Vase for the first time last season.
• Wadham Lodge FC - Formed in 2008, the Wad Army are based in Walthamstow and play their games in the Esses Senior League. This is their first tilt at the FA Cup and they will take on fellow debutants Framlingham Town.
• West Bridgford FC – Based on the outskirts of Nottingham and after winning the East Midlands Counties League and entering the FA Vase last term, they now tackle the world’s original cup competition with a trip to Clipstone.
• Whitchurch Alport FC – The Shropshire club were first formed in 1946 and boast former Northern Ireland striker Jimmy Quinn among their former players. They will play Walsall Wood away in their Emirates FA Cup debut.
• Widnes FC – A home tie against Handsworth Parramore awaits the North West Counties League club, who were formed in 2003 and make their FA Cup bow in 2017-18.
• Woodley United FC - Tuffley Rovers will be the opponents for this FA Charter Standard community club, who are based in Berkshire.