Darlaston tomorrow will take the long trip into Warwickshire to play Hellenic League Division One side, F.C. Stratford, in the First Round Qualifying of this seasons Isuzu FA Vase.

After two good opening wins in their League games, Darlaston’s focus once again returns to cup football, the first their game in the FA’s National Competition for all step 5 & 6 clubs in England, the prize for the winners is a home tie on 20th September 2022 against Midland Football League Premier Division Side and Emirates FA Cup giant killers Romulus.

Tomorrow’s opponents FC Stratford were one of the original members of The Midland Football League after starting in Division Three. After two lower table finishes in 2015/16 and the following season, they achieved top 6 finishes. They went one better in the 2017/18 season earning promotion by finishing third which allowed them to be promoted into Division Two.

During the FA’s reorganisation of Steps 4 to 6 of the NLS which saw Darlaston move over to the Midland Football League at the beginning of the 2021/22 season, FC Stratford were promoted to Step 6 and moved laterally into The Hellenic Division One League along with the likes of Studley and from The West Midlands Premier Division Littleton and Worcester Raiders. In their first season at Step 6 they finished mid-table winning 15 of their 32 games.

So far this season FC Stratford are in 13th place out of 19 teams, playing four games winning 1, drawing 2, and losing 1, securing 5 points.

Following last weekend's outstanding 2-0 win against Worcester City, Darlaston have once again had a busy week, training twice. Dean Gill and his management team have been extremely busy trying to add players to the squad, we are looking forward to seeing tomorrow if their hard work has paid off.

Everyone is hopeful of another cup run this season, but after Saturday’s game there is a quick turn-around when we welcome Racing Club Warwick to The Paycare Stadium for a Premier Division game on Monday afternoon. A meeting of the only two unbeaten winning teams having maximum points from their opening two games. Therefore one or both teams will have their record broken.

Tomorrow’s game kicks off at 3.00 p.m.

We are advised that entrance costs are £6.00 Adults, £4.00 Concessions and we hope and trust that a large contingent of Darlaston supporters will travel to the Arden Garage Stadium, a ground they share with Stratford Town.

The ground is located at:

Arden Garage Stadium
Knights Lane
Tiddington
Stratford-Upon-Avon
CV37 7BZ

Safe travels