FA Cup journey begins with a tough away match at Darlington on Saturday

Southport start their 2022/23 FA Cup journey with a trip to the North East and a visit to Darlington.

It’s not the kindest of draws, the FA Cup is all about playing different teams and to draw a team from your own legaue is always disappointing particularly away from home.

Southport have played Darlington already this season here at Haig Avenue coming out on top with a Jack Bainbridge goal the only goal of the game.

If the game ends in a draw the replay will be at Haig Avenue on Tuesday Kick Off 7.45 which would mean our scheduled Lancashire Challenge Trophy game against Longridge Town will be postponed.

Our NL Record at Darlington shows one previous FA Cup meeting in 1999, a game that sticks in the memory for a disallowed Mark Stuart free kick that was indirect but flew straight in,  or at least that’s what the refereee said! Having watched it back several (only about 100) times and despite saying at the time the keeper touched it on the way in….the ref was right but it was a good story. The Darlington winner came from a penalty for handball which again at the time everyone thought was harsh but the ref was correct. The ref that day was an ex footballer Steve Baines who went on to have a good refereeing career,