Historic rivals North Village Rams and PHC Zebras will renew their rivalry in knockout competitions when they square off at Bernard Park tomorrow in the FA Cup first round.

In the most interesting match of the round, the two clubs boast 19 titles between them. The Zebras hold the record, hoisting the showpiece ten times, most recently in the 2007-08 season when they beat Dandy Town 2-0.

Village are joint second with Somerset Trojans on nine, last winning the competition in 2005-06. Town were again the losing finalists, a 4-1 victory after extra time handing Village their second successive title. They beat Hamilton Parish 2-0 the previous season.

Something will have to give when the opening whistle is blown. “Both sides have historical importance, not just to the competition, but also the local game as well,” Robert Bean, the PHC assistant coach, said. “When you look down the line, there have been some great games between the teams and I expect nothing different tomorrow.

“Besides the history of the sides, it always something on the line no matter what competition it is. But this one will set up nice, given it is the FA Cup.”

Their first league meeting this season had Village run away with a 6-0 hammering of Zebras at Southampton Oval, with six different players hitting the back of the net.

Playing down the importance of that result on the upcoming encounter, and the revenge factor, Bean is focused on a good performance to help the side in their overall objectives for the season.

PHC are unbeaten in their past three outings, while the Rams are also in some sort of form, having beaten Flanagan’s Onions last time out.

“There is no such thing in our team as revenge, or getting them back for the last time we played,” Bean said. “We need to focus on the task at hand — not worry about what the next person is doing — and get on with the job asked of you.

“If you do the little things, you will succeed and that’s what we are hoping for tomorrow.”

FA Cup action starts tonight, with Young Men’s Social Club making the trek to Somerset Cricket Club to take on Somerset Trojans, while BAA Wanderers and Robin Hood do battle at Goose Gosling Field. Both matches will start at 8pm.

Tomorrow’s action is up and down the Island, with X-Roads and St George’s Colts, their east end rivals, clashing at Garrison Field at noon, while Wolves host Dandy Town at the Devonshire Recreation Club.

In the later kick-offs at 2.30pm, St David’s travel to Southampton Oval to play Southampton Rangers, Hamilton Parish welcome Flanagan’s Onions to Wellington Oval and Devonshire Cougars, the cup-holders, face off with Devonshire Colts in a derby match at Devonshire Recreation Club.