Key details

? Stalybridge Celtic v West
? FA Cup preliminary round
? Saturday 24th August 2019, 3pm
? Bower Fold, Mottram Road, Stalybridge, SK15 2RT
? £10 adults / £6 concessions / £1 under-16s
? Stalybridge (1.2 miles)
⏪ Replay at Brookburn Road on Tuesday 3rd September if scores are level after 90 minutes

West prepare to descend on Tameside for an FA Cup tie with Stalybridge Celtic – arguably the biggest match in the club’s history.

Brad Cooke’s side have already accounted for higher-division opposition in this season’s competition, eliminating Squires Gate in the last round, but if they can bridge a gap of 58 league positions and reach the first qualifying round for the first time it would be a seismic shock.

It promises to be a memorable occasion regardless of result, but West will travel to Bower Fold full of confidence. Tuesday night’s home win against Cheadle Town maintained an unbeaten start to the season and was a fifth win in six games.

Focus on Stalybridge

One of the grand old names of non-league football, Stalybridge played two seasons in the Football League before joining the Cheshire County League in 1923. They remained there for 60 years, winning the championship in 1980, before becoming founder members of the NWCFL in 1982. After promotion five years later they spent much of their time in the top two tiers of non-league before dropping back into the Northern Premier League in 2017.

They have struggled to adjust to their new surroundings, finishing 22nd in 2017-18 and 17th in 2018-19, only staying up by two points last campaign. Celtic fans would have feared the worst after a defeat to fellow strugglers Mickleover Sports on the opening day of this season, but Tuesday’s 5-1 home hammering of Scarborough Athletic was a timely boost.

Getting to Bower Fold

With Stalybridge easily accessible from Manchester on public transport, there will be no official club transport for this match. Trains to Stalybridge run direct from both Victoria and Piccadilly.

West supporters will be gathering in Stalybridge centre before making their way to Bower Fold for kick-off. Contact the club on Twitter for more information.

Preview Podcast

Expert analysis from Barca Jim ahead of the game

Other fixtures

Selected other FA Cup preliminary round ties

1874 Northwich v Handsworth Parramore
Atherton Collieries v Runcorn Linnets
Charnock Richard v Longridge Town
City of Liverpool v Skelmersdale United
Coleshill Town v Whitchurch Alport
Eccleshill United v Glossop North End
Liversedge v Droylsden
Northwich Victoria v Prescot Cables
Padiham v Marine
Radcliffe v Runcorn Town
Ramsbottom United v Winsford United
Sheffield v Litherland REMYCA
Stocksbridge Park Steels v Irlam
Trafford v Burscough
Widnes v Mossley

NWCFL First Division South matches

Friday 23rd August
Barnton v Cheadle Town

Saturday 24th August
Abbey Hulton United v Wythenshawe Amateurs
Cammell Laird v Wythenshawe Town
Eccleshall v Abbey Hey
Maine Road v Cheadle Heath Nomads
Sandbach United v Oswestry Town
St Martins v Stockport Town
Stone Old Alleynians v Ellesmere Rangers
Vauxhall Motors v Alsager Town