GRAYS Athletic and Tilbury meet new and up and coming opposition in today's (Saturday, 6 September) Isuzu FA Trophy First Qualifying Round.

Grays welcome Milton Keynes (MK) Irish to the EMR Stadium. The visitors may not be a familiar name, which is not entirely surprising as they were only formed in 2020. They were born as a result of a merger of three clubs; MK Robins, who were previously known as Buckingham Town F.C; Unite MK, who were founded as Wolverton Town F.C and Milton Keynes Irish Veterans.

It will be Grays' first meeting with The Irish, but the Blues have played against one of their forerunners, meeting Buckingham Town in 1981/2 in the fourth Round of the FA Vase at their Ford Meadow ground, with the hosts winning 3-1

Irish enjoyed a good campaign in 2023/24, finishing second, but then losing to FC Romania in the play offs. Then last season they clinched the title with 85 points, 11 points clear of runners up, Tring Athletic. They scored freely and only lost one league game all season. They also impressed in the F.A.Cup, beating Concord Rangers away and nearly doing an Island double as they led at Canvey Island before succumbing to a late winner.

This season they have been promoted to Step 4, joining Southern League Central, the same division as Hitchin Town, who beat Grays recently after an FA Cup replay. After a slow start, losing their first 4 games, they managed their first win last Saturday, 2-1 away at AFC Dunstable.

Tilbury, who face London Lions in the Trophy today, have played MK Irish, beating them 4-2 in the FA in the FA Cup in 2022. In another strange parallel Tilbury beat AFC Dunstable 1-0 in August, also in the FA Cup.

Today the Dockers travel to Barnet to play newly promoted London Lions who are currently members of the Southern League Division One Central and play at Rowley Lane.

In a tense and thrilling 1-1 draw in regulation time in the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division play-off final against Wormley Rovers last season Lions held their nerve to win 4-3 on penalties—securing a first-ever promotion to Step 4 of the FA pyramid in the club's history.

Today's Trophy matches will be decided on the day. If scores are level after 90 minutes, it goes straight to penalties. There is no extra time.

In the Isthmian Premier Aveley welcome St Albans City to Parkside.

Last time these two sides met there was last season in the National South in a nine goal thriller with Aveley running out 6-3 winners.

Unbeaten East Thurrock Community FC, who top the Essex and Suffolk Border League Premier Division with 13 points from five matches, play host to Hatfield Peveral at the Wyldecrest Club in Corringham, kick off 3pm.

The visitors are sixth, having won three, drawn two and lost one of their six matches.