Three Corona teams in FA Cup preliminary round
Three Corona League teams, including league champions West End United, will make their debut in the FA Cup during preliminary round matches on October 29.
Previously Butterfield & Vallis United had been the main representative from the Corona League in the FA Cup competition, beating First Division sides BAA and Somerset Eagles to reach the first round of the competition in 2014-15 and 2015-16.
However, B&V are not competing in the Corona League this season, leaving West End, Footy Kings and Tuff Dogs to carry the baton for the Corona League.
West End United have former Somerset Trojans players Lamaul Crofton and Adolphus Lambert in their ranks along with goalkeeper Lorenzo Lambert, a Premier Division player with Somerset Eagles last season, and could pose a threat to BAA at Goose Gosling Field.
Footy Kings and Tuff Dogs will be looking for cup upsets when they travel to east to meet St George’s Colts and St David’s respectively. Footy Kings had Gregory Rose, the former Devonshire Colts goalkeeper, in their team for their Coronita Charity Cup match with West End last week, while Kijuan Franks, the former Devonshire Cougars captain, was in their defence.
Oronde Bascome, who is awaiting a late transfer from St George’s to Devonshire Cougars, came on as a substitute for Footy Kings at the start of the second half against West End.
Devonshire Colts, five-times winners of the FA Cup, will meet Southampton Rangers at Police Field, where the two teams recently played to a 2-2 draw in their First Division league opener. Paget Lions play Somerset Eagles, while Wolves take on Hamilton Parish.
The Premier Division teams will enter the competition in the first round on the weekend of January 12 to 14.
Preliminary round draw: St George’s v Footy Kings (Wellington Oval); St David’s v Tuff Dogs (St David’s); Wolves v Hamilton Parish (Devonshire Rec); Paget Lions v Somerset Eagles (Southampton Oval); Devonshire Colts v Southampton Rangers (Police Field); BAA v West End United (Goose Gosling Field). All matches on October 29 start at 2.30pm.