The Mitres go into the very first round of the FA Cup (Extra Preliminary Round) for the first time under Steve Cleal as manager this weekend as they host Stotfold FC of the South Midlands Premier (Step 5)

The FA Cup hasn’t been the happiest of competitions for Cleeve in recent seasons. They’ve been knocked out in the 1st Qualifying Round or earlier in the past 5 seasons but the Mitres go into the match off the back of a draw and a win in their opening two matches. The last time the Mitres entered the FA Cup as an Hellenic league side it saw their best ever performance in the world famous competition when the side containing manager Steve Cleal got to the 4th Qualifying round before losing to Eastborne Borough 1-0.

Cleeve will be without goalkeeper Sam Gilder (appendicitis), striker Ieaun Crowe (ankle) and midfielders Ashley Davies (knee) & Henry Birkett who is waiting for the 7 days notice from Slimbridge to clear.

Stotfold go into the match on the back of two defeats but manager Steve Cleal knows that he’ll need all his players at their best to win just his 3rd match in the FA Cup as manager

“We know what we want to try and achieve this season so the standards we've sit ourselves is very high, They will be difficult opponents on Saturday regardless of how theyve started in their league campaign because of the element of the unknown. Losing Ieuan and Sam for a few weeks is a blow for the squad and the Henry situation is ridicculous really but I emphasise the word squad because thats what we need to be competative this year. The lads that come in are looking forward to it and know that they've got an opportunity to help create a bit more history for this club"