Good Morning All - just thought I'd share my latest trip out to the non-league!
It was Brackley v Scunthorpe United in the FA Cup 2nd round qualifier replay!
Yep, a lot of rounds to play even before the first round. If you're not sure how it works the competition starts in August with the minnows as low as the 10th tier entering these qualifiers and as it progresses the higher up leagues enter at each stage until the clubs in League 1 + 2 (AKA division 3 + 4) enter the first round proper in November.
The PL + Championship clubs enter in round 3 in January so in theory you're local pub team could play in the final against Man Utd in May the following year!
So Brackley are trying to get through the qualifiers and beat Scunny 3-1 last week so we went along for our second game of the season to cheer them on... and what a game!

Photo slightly blurred, sorry!
Scunthorpe were playing in the Championship just ten years or so ago and as Leicester went on to greater things after playing them, Scunny has taken in 4 relegations to be in the same league as Brackley now (National League North)
It was a typical sized crowd for the hastily arranged replay (between 500-600) but what a game and what great goals too.
With the prospect of extra time as it was 1-1 going deep into injury time we were spared a late night when Danny Newton (great beard BTW!) scored an absolute belter
2 min highlights below, but just go one min in to watch it
Then a pen a minute later meant we could go home early!
If you get the chance try out a smaller club, I still enjoy the glamour of watching Leicester live and went to see a much rejuvenated side win again on Saturday but the non-league has real charm!