Key Events
Signing off
Well, that was fun.
The Blues now know their FA Cup fate and will face Steve Burr’s Southport on Saturday, October 15 in a clash that is sure to be a full-blooded affair.
Thanks for joining our blog today. We’ll be back live for the trip to North Ferriby United tomorrow night.
Macca speaks on the draw
Here’s our chat with Blues boss McCarthy from earlier this afternoon as he speaks on facing Steve Burr’s Southport in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round.
Macca on facing Burr
I think we deserved a home draw. We’ve not had a home draw in the FA Cup since I have been here and the moment Steve goes he gets one. That doesn’t seem fair. But genuinely the FA Cup can give the fans a boost and I know how important it is to the fans. It can make a big difference. It won’t be nice on the day and I know how much Steve likes to win. That will be awkward. That is going to be really difficult but we are both really professional and I owe a debt to him as a player and as an assistant so there isn’t any animosity. There are no issues and problems and I’m pleased to see him back in the game but we both want to win and whoever loses will be disappointed. I can’t cloud over it, it won’t be nice.
And so it was written
It’s Macca v Burr, Mahon v Higgins.
Chester will face former boss Burr’s struggling Southport side on Saturday, October 15 at Haig Avenue. Here’s the full story.
The fourth qualifying round draw in full
Southport v Chester FC
Alfreton Town v Gateshead
North Ferriby United v Macclesfield Town
FC United of Manchester/Harrogate Town v FC Halifax Town
Stockport County v Bishop Auckland
Barrow AFC v Tranmere Rovers
Halesowen Town/Nantwich Town v Stourbridge
Altrincham v Matlock Town/Workington AFC
Lincoln City v Guiesley AFC
Lincoln United v Spennymoor Town
Stamford AFC v Wrexham
York City v Curzon Ashton
Welling United v Whitehawk
Westfields v Leiston
Sutton United v Forest Green Rovers
Chesham United v Potters Bar Town/Bath City
Dagenham & Redbridge v Wealdstone
Torquay United v Woking
Taunton Town v Gloucester City/Hemel Hempstead Town
Braintree Town v Bromley
Beaconsfield SYCOB v Brackley Town
Tonbridge Angels v Dartford
Faversham Town/Egham Town v St Albans City
Boreham Wood v Hendon
Aldershot Town v Eastbourne Borough/Hadley
Harrow Borough v Margate/Hastings United
Maidstone United v Billericay Town
Kidderminster Harriers v Weymouth
Solihull Moors v Kettering Town
Burgess Hill Town v Dover Athletic
Merstham v Ebbsfleet United
Eastleigh v North Leigh
The pick of the bunch
Chester’s trip to Southport is definitely the tie of the round. Some interesting match ups between the likes of Barrow and Tranmere but it is the clash between the Blues and the Sandgrounders that is the pick.
Thoughts on the draw
It had to be. Chester will face Southport and Jon McCarthy will come up against Steve Burr in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round. While a home draw would have been preferable the trip to the Sandgrounders, struggling in the National League this season, offers a real chance of progression for Chester. It could have been far worse looking at some of the teams in the northern section and this clash has the added spice owing to Burr’s Blues connection. Both managers will know their opposite number inside out so it will be an intriguing clash and one sure to see plenty of Blues fans make the trip.
Dave Powell
When and where?
The Blues will travel to Southport for the clash on Saturday, October 15 (3pm).
A great chance to progress
The Sandgrounders have struggled so far this season but Chester will have preferred a home draw.
But McCarthy will know what to expect from Burr and this promises to be a hotly contested affair as the former Blues boss comes up against his old number two.
A good chance to progress for the Blues, though.
A famous face reminices
Dean Ashton is in the TalkSport studio ready for the FA Cup fourth qualifying round draw.
Here's hoping we can make some more memories
While last season was one to forget for the Blues in the FA Cup, the 2014/15 season was definitely one to savour in the competition.
A 4-2 fourth qualifying round success at Stockport County was followed by a 2-1 win at League Two side Southend United.
A heroic display earned a 0-0 draw at League One outfit Barnsley in round two but the replay was to prove a step too far for the Blues as they were beaten 3-0 on home turf.
It was, though, an FA Cup to remember.
What time is the draw?
The draw is being made on the Jim White show on TalkSport radio after 11.30pm. Expect the Blues to know their fate before noon.
Jon McCarthy's hopes for the draw
We’d love a home game against a minnow because financially the first round of this competition is very important to the football club. I know that. The budgets are all set to get through the season and we are very well run as a football club. But the bonuses you can have are if you sell a player or the FA Cup. We have tended to have a lot of away draws in the FA Cup and we just want to get through that first game. It is worth over £12,000 and that is really significant for this football club. It is vital. I have promised our board I will do twice as much preparation for the FA Cup as it can be so important financially to the club.
Pre-draw thoughts
Chester FC season ticket holder and Chronicle story editor Mark Dowling shares his hopes for the draw.
Given the feel-good factor of Chester FC’s recent form, there are very few teams in this next round I’d fear, so it’s more about location. I’d be happy for Chester to be drawn against FC United of Manchester at home, as the matches between them and the Blues in recent years tended to be a great spectacle with a fine atmosphere. If it has to be away, a trip to Kidderminster Harriers and their renowned excellent pies would be nice.
Anyone but Alty
We never do well there, do we?
Last season was one to forget for the Blues at the fourth qualifying round stage as they were beaten 1-0 by Altrincham at Moss Lane following an abject display.
Damien Reeves struck on 51 minutes to settle the contest and the Blues could have no real complaint over the result with the Robins more deserving of a place in the first round at the end of a game that never came close being a classic.
Who could the Blues face?
The northern section of the draw has plenty of tough potential opponents for Jon McCarthy’s Blues side.
Aside from the obvious clashes with National League rivals such as Wrexham and Tranmere, teams from the National League North including FC United of Manchester, FC Halifax Town and Stockport County offer real challenges.
Here are the draw numbers.
1 Barrow
2 Chester
3 Gateshead
4 Guiseley
5 Lincoln City
6 Macclesfield Town
7 North Ferriby United
8 Southport
9 Tranmere Rovers
10 Wrexham
11 York City
12 Halesown Town/Nantwich Town
13 Lincoln United
14 Bishop Auckland
15 FC Halifax Town
16 Alfreton Town
17 Curzon Ashton
18 Stourbridge
19 Matlock Town/Workington
20 Stockport County
21 Spennymoor Town
22 FC United of Manchester/Harrogate Town
23 Altrincham
24 Stamford
Welcome
Good morning, Blues fans!
Following a memorable weekend that saw Chester smash five second-half goals past Dover Athletic in the National League, attention turns to the FA Cup today as the draw for the fourth qualifying round is made.
The draw is set for around 11.30am and is being made live on TalkSport radio and Chester have 23 possible opponents in the northern section as they look to progress to the first round proper for the first time since 2014.
Last season was a disappointing one for Chester at the fourth qualifying round stage as they were beaten 1-0 at Altrincham and they will be hoping for a favourable home draw against a minnow.
But with the likes of Tranmere Rovers, Lincoln City, Wrexham and Macclesfield Town all in the pot there are plenty of tough opponents that the Blues could be drawn against.
Let’s kick things off.