S8 Ep4: 15th September 2023 - FA Cup 2Q & Mousehole

It’s the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup with the National League South and National League North clubs joining the competition and those who have got the competition to this stage are beginning to dream of some proper giantkillings.

We kick it all off with the man in the know, FA Cup statistician extraordinaire Phil Annets with his @FACupFactfile hat on joins Tim Fuell to give some insight into the 160 clubs in 80 ties this weekend.

Then we head down to the south west again. A bit further than last week’s show, this time the most westerly side in the top four steps of the National League system. A club on the rise not only on the field but also off it. Leading the way in building online followings and communities supporting a club that now boasts an international fan base for what is truly a village side, but a lovely village at that.

Jake Ash is the manager at Mousehole AFc and as it turns out he is as big a fan of this show as we are of his work and those around him at the club. Mousehole are unbeaten this season, joint top scorers in the competition and whilst they host higher level opposition in the FA Cup this weekend there’s little doubt there’s a respectful belief that their unbeaten record and FA Cup journey aren’t about to come to an end just yet.

Rounding it all up Matt Badcock Editor at Large at the Non League Paper with a few reception issues but hopefully not impacting too heavily on his insight into the big news across the pyramid this week and the issues to be covered in this week’s Non League Paper.