FA Cup first round: the minnows’ stories, from Westfields to Merstham


Supporters, media and staff from six of the clubs looking to cause upsets this weekend tell the inside story of their journeys into the national spotlight

When we founded Westfields 50 years ago, reaching the first round proper of the FA Cup would have been nothing more than a wild dream. Getting to this stage has been a memorable journey, starting on 6 August in the extra preliminary round against Stourport Swifts. We needed a last-minute penalty to win 4-3 and that slender win has mushroomed into something very special. The logistics and arrangements put in place this week before our tie with Curzon Ashton are all new for us as a club. There is an enormous amount of work to be done. Football Focus will be live at the ground and there will be extended highlights on Match of the Day, and that’s something we have never been involved in before.

Related: The Joy of Six: FA Cup first round memories | Scott Murray

Related: Merstham and Westfields rewarded with home ties in FA Cup first round

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