We're really excited to be back in The FA Cup but it's not a free hit because of the financial gains you can bring from it, says Holmesdale boss Lee Roots

Thursday 05th August 2021

HOLMESDALE manager Lee Roots says the club will be making a day of it for their first FA Cup tie in four years when they travel to Gillingham to take on their league rivals Hollands & Blair on Saturday.

 

The Bromley based club are in the top eight in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table after opening their campaign with a 1-0 defeat at K Sports before bouncing back with a 4-2 win at Rusthall last night.

The Dalers were 4-0 up after 65 minutes, courtesy of goals from Rory Ward, Jordan Eels, a James White own goal and Nathan Palmer.

Jimmy Anderson’s side – whom like Kennington and Holmesdale were promoted from the First Division last season – then threw caution to the wind and pulled a couple of goals back through Luke Adams’ penalty and a tap-in from substitute Ihjah Currie-Wilson but are sitting at the bottom of the division going into the first hurdle of The FA Cup.

Simon Halsey’s Blair, meanwhile, are in eleventh-place in the pecking order after losing 3-1 at Erith & Belvedere on the opening day before bouncing back by beating Punjab United 2-1 on Tuesday night.

“We’re really excited, it’s the first time the club are back in The FA Cup,” said Roots.

“You know how important these days are for a club like us.  The new chairman (Keith Bird), everything they’ve been doing behind the club, we want to give a great day to the players’ and staff.

“We’re travelling by coach, a 30-seater coach and we watched Hollands & Blair on Tuesday night and we feel equipped but we wanted to get a win last night to take into that, so we’re all looking forward to it.

“It’s not a free hit because of the financial gains you can bring from it but it will be fun – but well be taking it seriously.”

Hollands & Blair  v  Holmesdale
The Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
Saturday 7 August 2021
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Star Meadow, Darland Avenue, Gillingham, Kent ME7 3AN