The Gaffer Says

Here we go again then, the March to the Arch gets under way for Herne Bay with a Preliminary Round tie in the Emirates FA Cup at Winch's Field against fellow Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South) side East Grinstead United.

Herne Bay manager Sam Denly says, "If I'm being honest this comes at a good time. We've had two very good, hard league games, it'll be a hard game Saturday but it's a break from the league early on which is fine. It's the FA Cup, everyone likes to play in that competition and we'll make sure we prepare the same and we will treat it as important as a league game. We want to have a good run in the cup, it creates revenue and it gets people interested and through the gate. We're looking forward to the FA Cup and we want to get a run this season. They're going to come down full of confidence wanting to progress themselves. If we take them lightly we're going to get beat. We've got to be at our best every week and maintain that throughout the season. If we do that, and we've got enough quality, we won't go far wrong".

The winners of this tie will be at home to either Shortwood United (who Bay beat in the quarter-final of the FA Vase) or Ashford Town Middx in the 1st Round Qualifying on Saturday 3rd September.