FA Cup 1st Round Proper
Charlton Athletic vs Cray Valley Paper MillsSunday 5th November 2023 - 5:30pm KO (Live on BBC2)Referee: Ben SpeedieIntroductionTwo sides separated by just four miles, but a whole load of places separate them in the English Football Pyramid
This really is why the English System is perhaps the greatest in the world, and this match up coming up on Sunday really does epitomise that fact - Of course Cray Valley would have stood a greater chance had this game not been away for them. But at 5:30pm on Sunday afternoon, two teams will step out on to a Football pitch, there doesn't have to be a winner... But at the same time, miracles can happen...
The OppositionName: Cray Valley Paper Mills | Manager: Steve McKimmLeague: Isthmian League South East Division (10th)Last time Out: Chatham 0-2 Cray Valley (FA Trophy)When Charlton met Coalville Town a year, it was against the lowest team we'd ever faced in a competitive fixture.
Fast forward a year, and Cray Valley Paper Mills become the lowest team we've ever faced in a competitive fixture - Based in Eltham, the Millers have been in existence since 1919, spending the entirety of their History in the Non-League Pyramid - This is only Cray Valley's second outing in the First Round Proper of the FA Cup, they reached this stage back in 2020-21, however they'd be on the losing side that day at Havant and Waterlooville... So they shouldn't be phased by reaching this point in the competition.
Much will be made about the family reunion at the Valley on Sunday, what with the Lisbie links to this club
However browsing elsewhere through the Cray Valley team, and there isn't much League experience for them to call upon, which in turn could be vital the longer this particular game goes on - Lyle Della-Verde on the wing (Fleetwood) and Adam Coombes up front (Notts County) appear to be the only ones with League experience. Both have had spells with Welling United, should be familiar with Charlton fans.
Their FA Cup journey began back on the 19th August, with Lordswood another side from the South East of England forcing a replay... Since then teams such as Uxbridge, Northwood, Carshalton and Enfield have fallen by the wayside - It was pretty inevitable this tie would be setup, especially with Kyrell Lisbie bagging two goals in that Final Qualifier.
Lets hope Charlton don't join that list of clubs come Sunday evening!!
Charlton Team NewsI guess we can expect wholesale changes from the Addicks this coming weekend.
I'd be very surprised if Management didnt treat it like another EFL Trophy given the level of Cray Valley, and we should be too strong for them based on the talent of the squad, thats even with Northwich Victoria warnings in the background - Some like Ashley Maynard-Brewer may keep his place, to keep up momentum ahead of an important League fixture at Portsmouth next Saturday.
Equally we may see a few Youth teamers given an opportunity, our U21s beating Cray Valley in the London Senior Cup last season.
Maynard-Brewer
Laqeretabua - Ness - Hector - Edun
Anderson - Kedwell
Fraser
T.Campbell - Leaburn - Kirk
Substitutes Bench: Walker - Asiimwe - Jones - Dobson - L.Watson - C.Campbell - Casey
Comments
Is McGrandles fit enough to feature, as again this would be an ideal reintroduction for him.
As mentioned on the FA Cup thread earlier, the last instance of an 8th tier side playing away at a 3rd tier side that I could find was Tranmere (who ended up relegated to League 2 the same season) beating Chichester City 5-1 in 2019.
Have an eighth tier team ever got beyond the First Round?
Walker
Laqeretabua
Abankwah
Ness
Edun
Anderson
McGrandles
Fraser
Kirk
Tedic
Yes, Chichester City got to round 2 against Tranmere in 2019. :-)
Although they did benefit from a round 1 bye to get there (Bury's expulsion meant that there were only 79 teams in the round 1 draw that season).
One step further, tier 8 side Marine reached the third round in 2020-21 who people might remember were drawn at home against Tottenham.
In the FA Cup, they do. :-)
He will definitely play a stronger line up than that. The last thing he would want would be an embarrassing upset live on the TV just a couple of months into his tenure.
0-1 and at least one injury to one of our better players...
Here is what I'm expecting:
Walker
Laqeretabua Abankwah Ness Chin
........Anderson - Fraser
.............C Campbell
T.Campbell - Tedic - Kirk
Substitutes Bench: Molyneux - Edun - Asiimwe - T. Watson - Kedwell - McGrandles - C Casey
I doubt that Edun and McGrandles are 60 minutes fit yet, but if they are I expect them to start in place of Chin and C. Campbell .
There is no need to have the likes of May, Dobbo, AMB, CBT, or Hector anywhere near this game. If you want a CB on the bench have Jones there instead of one of the RBs, but Asiimwe has played CB in the past and feel he could cover there against a side like this.
Hopefully there's no point in suggesting the make up of the team now. As somebody stated in an earlier post, the team should have been chosen earlier this week, and given time to work together over the past few days.