Editor’s Notes

Hello everyone and welcome to The Green Energy Stadium for tonight’s FA Cup fixture against Hemsworth Miners Welfare FC.

I’ve been looking forward to tonight for some time, my first time back in a football ground since the lockdown. I still find it absolutely crazy when I think about just how long it has been, my last visit to a football ground being the trip to Seaham Red Star on March 10.

After missing the preseason matches as I was taking some time in the last month to spend with my family in West Yorkshire, who I didn’t see until lockdown restrictions were eased a little bit in June, I can’t wait to see the lads back in action tonight as well as getting my first glimpse of the new signings.

It was such a shame how last season had to end. For all the work the lads put into the league campaign to have come to nothing was gutting to see. But we have to accept that it was the safest thing to do as we were at the height of the pandemic.

We have to give a lot of credit to the FA for finding a solution to complete last season’s FA Vase. As much as I love a little bit of an away day, it has to be said that was not the draw I was hoping for. It’s going to be a long and tense weekend travelling down to Kent, but I’m delighted for the squad that they get the chance to win their place at Wembley.

We understand that a lot of people who would want to be there will not have the chance due to fan number and travel limitations. As a club, we are looking into solutions to broadcast the match via a video stream and we are liaising with people who have experience in that. As the media manager, I will try everything to wrap my head around getting a video stream going, even though it is not something I have set up before. I appreciate that watching the game on a stream is not the same as being at the ground. As a Leeds United fan, I had the bittersweet experience of watching my club finally win promotion back to the Premier League – something I’ve waited most of my life to see – on my TV. I can tell you, if the lads get the job done and send Hebburn to Wembley, that moment when the final whistle goes is much more sweet than it is bitter. I was not even thinking about the disappointment of not being at Elland Road when the referee called the end to the barrage we were facing against Barnsley.

For those of you lucky enough to get down there, make sure you do your best to make enough noise for all the people who miss out.

Back to tonight’s game, it’s always interesting when playing an unfamiliar opponent. Hemsworth have been on my list of grounds to tick off when I’m at home in West Yorkshire for a few years now, but I still haven’t made it with others such as Ossett and Liversedge being easier for me.

Respect to Hemsworth, that is not a nice journey to do on a Tuesday night. Considering that this game had to be scheduled for a midweek instead of a Saturday as the extra-prelim round usually is, you wonder if the draw could have been localised a little bit more. If the boot was on the other foot, especially considering the journey we have on Saturday as well, I don’t think we’d have been happy with that draw.

I’m sure they’ll be keen to make an impression. They will not have made a journey like that to not come and put in a performance.

I genuinely love the FA Cup. Even though I’ve rarely seen the magic of it myself. I’ve spent today googling the longest runs made by teams at each non-league step. I will always dare to dream - within reason of course - and it would be great to see the lads get through a couple of the qualifying rounds and get the chance to play some big non-league teams along the way.

Come on you Hornets! Enjoy the game, Kieran Archer