Match Preview: Sheffield FC (A)

This weekend The Bucks make the long approximate two hour trip to Dronfield to take on the historically known world’s first football club Sheffield FC in the preliminary round of the FA Cup.

By Brendan Doyle

Bootle have already advanced further in the FA Cup this season than they did in the previous campaign due to beating 1874 Northwich 4-0 on August 1st at The Berry Street Garage stadium with a very clinical and dominant performance. Although having already bettered their 2024/25 performance in the competition, Alan Morgan will still aim to advance at least couple of more rounds further this campaign.

Last season Sheffield FC had a fairly decent run in the competition as they reached the second qualifying round whilst overcoming Nantwich Town, Clitheroe and Pontefract Collieries, but unfortunately in the next stage they were handed a 5-0 defeat away at Rushall Olympic. A 1-1 draw at the Coach And Horses Ground against Albion Sports forced a replay the following Tuesday night which led to be an extremely fiery contest which seen Sheffield win 3-2, thanks to a heroic late penalty save from Sam Green.

The Manager: Vill Powell was appointed Sheffield manager in November 2024, he has previously managed Brighouse where he spent eight years at the hot seat, he was also most recently assistant manager of Bradford Park Avenue before moving to The World’s First. As a player he featured for Derry City, Sheffield Wednesday’s B team, Retford United, Stocksbridge Park Seels and Sheffield FC. In Sheffield FC’s 150th anniversary game against Inter Milan, Powell featured for the club.

Key Player: 34 year old left back Rory Coleman offers bags full of experience every time he steps over the white line for The World’s First, he signed for the club in the 2021/22 season. Coleman’s playing CV consists of Scunthorpe United, Ilkeston Town, Boston United, Gainsborough, Stocksbridge Park Seels, Maltby, Grantham and Loughborough.

Fact File:

Founded: 1857

Nickname: The World’s First

Ground: Coach And Horses Ground

Capacity: 2,000 (250 seated)

Recent Honours:

Northern Counties East League Premier Division Runners Up 2006/07