The Hoops’ players are about to become very familiar with their Glebe counterparts, who they meet in the FA Cup preliminary round at the Charles Ground this Saturday (3pm).
For the two sides will face each other in two other cup competitions over the next few months. On September 9 Deal will travel to Glebe’s Foxbury Stadium for an FA Vase first round qualifying tie and they have also been drawn against each other, this time back at the Charles Ground, in the Southern Counties East League Challenge Cup second round, with the date of that tie yet to be decided.
If you take into account their two league meetings it means the clubs are guaranteed to meet at least five times this season, which will be Glebe’s first ever in the SCEL Premier Division after winning the Division One title last season. And that memorable campaign included upsetting the Hoops 3-1 in an FA Vase second round qualifying replay at the Charles Ground after the clubs had drawn 1-1 at Foxbury Stadium.
Glebe were founded in 1995 by their present chairman Rocky McMillan and his wife Grace and from humble beginnings, with just one Under-Eight side, the club has become one of the biggest in the London South-East and Kent area with over 300 locally-based members playing in 20 Junior teams, four Vets’ sides, 1 Ladies’ team and of course the Men’s First XI.
However they have suffered a bit of a jolt in their opening two league matches in the SCEL “top flight”, losing 3-1 at home to Whitstable Town and then crashing 6-0 at Beckenham on Wednesday night but they did defeat Lordswood 1-0 at home in the FA Cup on the opening day of the campaign to set up this weekend’s tie.
Hoops boss Derek Hares said: “We have got a good chance against Glebe. There is good prize money on offer (£1,925) for the winners and teams from the leagues above come into it again in the next round.”
Goalkeeper James Tonkin is available again after being suspended for Tuesday’s goalless draw against Sheppey United.
