Southern Combination Premier Division outfit Bexhill Utd are aiming to make Emirates FA Cup history this weekend when they take on Raynes Park Vale in the Preliminary Round on Saturday.

The Pirates have never progressed into the Qualifying Rounds before but if they are to clear that hurdle they will need to pull off a classic giant-killing act against opponents who sit a level above them in the non-league football pyramid.

The game, which kicks off at 3pm, will be hosted once again by Eastbourne Town at their Saffrons Ground as Bexhill are unable to play at their Polegrove stadium until the cricket season ends.

In the last round the Pirates came from behind to beat Sheerwater with 16 year old Theo Coombs notching the third goal and writing his name into the record books as Bexhill’s youngest ever scorer and one of the youngest in FA Cup history.

Bexhill go into the game in good spirit, unbeaten in their first three games with two wins and a draw but manager Jay Skinner-Swain knows how tough a challenge their opponents will provide.

‘With the start to the season we’ve had, confidence in the group is growing and with the belief that we still have more to show, we are extremely excited for this match up. With the extra carrot of having the chance to make Bexhill Utd history by going the deepest in the FA Cup the club have ever gone’.

‘Raynes Park Vale come here with a strong start to the season themselves so this promises to be a great cup tie with two teams looking to impress on the day’.

Courtesy of Geoff Martin