FA TROPHY PREVIEW

AFC SUDBURY V CRAY VALLEY (PM)
9 OCT 2021
BUILDBASE FA TROPHY 2ND ROUND QUALIFYING

By Richard J Green

It’s a trip to Suffolk and pastures new for Valley on Saturday as two in-form teams embark on this season’s FA Trophy campaign at AFC Sudbury.
While the hosts currently lie handily placed in the play-off places in the Isthmian League North division, Kevin Watson’s Millers side moved joint top of the South East division on Tuesday night with their fifth win in six games against Phoenix Sports.
Along with their outstanding league form, “Suds” have also progressed in this season’s FA Cup – having been drawn at home to Dartford in the 4th Round Qualifying next Saturday.
Since joining the Club just before the start of the season, joint managers Rick Andrews and Angelo Harrop have utilised a squad featuring many products of the Club’s successful Academy system, while “rapid” leading scorer Romario Dunne joined Sudbury from Braintree Town last season.
Following formation in 1999 by the merger of Sudbury Town and Sudbury Wanderers, “Amalgamated Football Club” Sudbury went on to win the Eastern Counties Premier Division five seasons in a row as well as reaching the final of the FA Vase in three successive seasons (2002/3 – 2004/5), records for both competitions.
Since joining the Isthmian League ranks in 2006/7, AFC Sudbury have consistently been among the promotion contenders (apart from a two year “lateral” move to the Southern League), winning promotion as Champions to the Premier Division in 2015/16 (when co-incidentally a 3g pitch was installed at Brundon Lane) before being relegated the following season.
Valley visit The Mel Group Stadium looking for their first victory in the FA Trophy following a Preliminary Round defeat at Maldon & Tiptree in 2019/20 (2-5) and penalty shootout heartbreak at Whyteleafe (0-0) in the 2nd Round Qualifying last season.
Manager Watson will be missing defender David Ompreon following his dismissal at Whitstable Town, but Nat Blanks appeared for 45 minutes on Tuesday and Paul Semakula is also available for selection.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS
This will be the first meeting between the two Clubs

SEASON 2021/22 FORM GUIDE
AFC Sudbury
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Cray Valley (PM)
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PREVIOUS BEST FA TROPHY SEASON
AFC Sudbury
2016/17 – 2nd Round
Cray Valley (PM)
2020/21 – 2nd Round Qualifying

Millers put on the pressure in last season’s FA Trophy tie at Whyteleafe

MATCH DETAILS

DATE:-
SATURDAY 9th OCTOBER 2021, KICK-OFF 3PM

VENUE :-
THE MEL GROUP STADIUM, BRUNDON LANE, SUDBURY, SUFFOLK, CO10 7HN
(APPROX JOURNEY TIME FROM THE ARTIC STADIUM – 90 MINS (subject to river crossing delays), 70 MILES)

ADMISSION PRICES
Adults - £10
Concessions - £7 (over 65 or in full time education)
Under 18’s - £2
Under 5’s - Free

Website : https://www.afcsudbury.co.uk

Referee – Aaron Farmer
Assistants – Edward Frazer and Adam Everett

Chairman Frank May’s Interesting Fact:
The town of Sudbury became notable for its art in the 18th century, being the birthplace of Thomas Gainsborough, whose landscapes offered inspiration to John Constable, another Suffolk painter of the surrounding Stour Valley area!

#COYM