Hassocks host Isthmian League side Uxbridge in the Emirates FA Cup
The last time Hassocks progressed to the first qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup was 2013. If you want some idea of how different the world was back then, the Robins eliminated fellow Southern Combination League side Dorking Wanderers to set up a home tie with Chipstead.
Dorking are now in the Vanarama National League. Last Saturday, they were edged out 3-2 in their first ever game at that level against Oldham Athletic, who were themselves FA Cup semi finalists in 1994.
Stories like that are what makes football the beautiful game. So too are upsets, when David beats Goliath. The Robins will be hoping to cause one at the Beacon when they host Isthmian League South Central outfit Uxbridge in the preliminary round of the world’s greatest cup competition.
Uxbridge are one of the oldest and most famous clubs in non league football. They are former FA Amateur Cup runners up, beaten by Middlesbrough in the final.
In 1976, they played England at Wembley in a friendly to help the Three Lions prepare for their World Cup qualification campaign.
England won 8-0, which really was a hugely respectable result for the Reds. You can only imagine what the score line would be if Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Declan Rice and co decided to have a warm up match for Qatar against Hassocks at the Beacon.
Slightly more than the 7-1 defeat the Robins suffered in pre-season at the hands of the mighty Whitehawk? Still, the Robins Bar would no doubt make some money in the unlikely event Gareth Southgate and his players do rock up in the next few months.
That loss to the Hawks gives some idea of the scale of the task facing Hassocks against Uxbridge. The Reds play at the same level, albeit in the South Central division rather than the South East.
They are one of the sides fancied for promotion in the current campaign too. Last season saw Uxbridge finish sixth, one place outside the playoff spots.
Manager Danny Edwards has further strengthened his squad over the summer as the Reds chase a place in the Isthmian League Premier.
Uxbridge have come close to making it to step three on several occasions since the turn of the century. Between 2004 and 2018, Uxbridge were a Southern League club and reached the regional Division One playoffs on three occasions, losing in the final twice and the semis once.
Promotion may have eluded them but silverware has not. The Middlesex Charity Cup has proven a particularly fruitful competition, the Reds having lifted it four times since 2013.
Needless to say, this will be the first ever meeting between Hassocks and Uxbridge. In fact, the Reds have very limited experience of Southern Combination League clubs in general, playing just a handful of matches – the majority of which took place in the 1980s.
Their most recent experience came way back in the 2004-05 season when they travelled to the Lashmar to face East Preston in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup.
EP pulled off a big shock that day, running out 1-0 winners against opponents who were in the Southern League East Division at the time.
The 1982-83 season saw Three Bridges eliminate the Reds from the FA Cup in a first qualifying round replay. A seasons earlier and Uxbridge overcame Peacehaven & Telscombe via a replay at the same stage of the competition. The Reds had beaten Horsham YMCA in the previous round.
In the FA Vase, Eastbourne United put paid to Uxbridge’s hopes of going all the way with a 1-0 third round replay win at the Oval in 1985. And that is it.
Hassocks will at least come into the game in good form. The Robins have won their past three matches in a row and are starting to find their feet now under new head coach James Westlake.
The victory over Lingfield in the extra preliminary round was delivered thanks to an incredible own goal, captured on film by Your Instant Replay.
Nearly half a million people have since watched the moment on Twitter. Your Instant Replay will be in attendance again this Saturday, no doubt hoping for more comedy gold.
Wins at AFC Uckfield Town and Alfold in the past week did not require an opposition player to put through his own net from 20 yards.
Hassocks had to be attritional in 35 degree eat and on a terrible pitch at Uckfield to come away with a 2-1 success.
In contrast, Alfold on Tuesday night saw an impressive display of football resulting in a comfortable 3-0 win.
If the Robins are to produce a giant killing act against Uxbridge, then it would be Hassocks’ first Emirates FA Cup win over opponents from a higher level since 2006.
Southern League side Newport (IOW) sailed to Mid Sussex for a 2-0 defeat at this same preliminary round stage of the competition. Richard Thomas scored both the Robins goal to set up a trip to Sittingbourne, ending in a 3-0 defeat.
Matchday information
Kick off is at 3:00pm and admission is £7 adults, £3 concessions and free for under 16s. Both card and cash payments are accepted on the turnstiles.
The T Bar will be open serving hot food and drink and the Robins Bar has a wide selection of craft beer from local breweries, along with other alcohol.
Dogs are welcome and a 40 page printed matchday programme will be on sale for £1.
