We’re Back! – FA Cup Extra-preliminary round preview

After a couple of seasons out in the cold the Fish are back ready to do business in the FA Cup. It’s a welcome return to the Road to Wembley and we start off our campaign early on with a home tie this saturday against Horsham YMCA of the Southern Combination Premier Division, a step five club.

The FA Cup is still the most prestigious of domestic cup competitions and there’s still a sense of glamour and occasion attached to these games, especially for small clubs looking to do a bit of giant killing and putting one over on the big money clubs. It also gives us the opportunity to play against sides we would never usually meet.

Horsham unsurprisingly are an unknown quantity for the Fish but even in the early stages of the season they seem to be showing their form – two wins out of two games played, sitting a comfortable fourth in the table. And like the Fish they are supporter-owned, making it a truly community football club.

So it should be a celebratory affair down at St Paul’s on saturday. The Fisher youth mascots will be leading the teams out and 200 black and white balloons will be released to celebrate our return to the FA Cup competition. All we need is the same noisy and committed support we had against Croydon mid-week where the Fish fought back from being one behind to take the three points in a thrilling first home match of the season.

The weather forecast for saturday is bright and sunny – perfect footballing conditions so get down to the stadium early – Fisherman’s Rest opens its doors at 1.45pm – we have big screen TV and a selection of craft beers on offer from our local independent brewery, with hot and cold snacks served throughout the afternoon.

Fisher vs Horsham YMCA
Saturday 11 August 2018
3pm kick-off
FA Cup Extra-Preliminary Round

Location:
St Paul’s Stadium
Salter Road
Rotherhithe
London SE16 5EF

Prices:
Adults £8 (members £7)
Seniors/unwaged/16-21 year olds £5 (members £4)
Under 16s FREE (accompanied or members) or £1 (unaccompanied)

Map and directions:

Trains:

Nearest train station: Rotherhithe (on the London Overground).

Turn left out of the station and the stadium is roughly 10 minutes walk directly along Salter Rd.

Nearest tube station: Canada Water (on the Jubilee Line).
Out of the station (bus station exit) you can either:

Turn right on Surrey Quays Rd, then right onto Lower Rd – passing the blue plaque building of Michael Caine’s birthplace! When you get to the Rotherhithe Tunnel roundabout take a right onto Brunel Rd which leads into Salter Rd past Rotherhithe station, walk along til you reach the ground (on the left).
Turn left on Surrey Quays Rd, then left again onto Redriff Rd which leads into Salter Rd, carry on walking til you reach the ground (on the right).
Both options take around 15 minutes to walk.