Signing off
We’re wrapping up the blog now so thanks for joining us this morning. To confirm, Chester or Halifax will host Gateshead in the FA Trophy quarter-finals on Saturday, February 27.
Thoughts on the draw?
Of course the Blues have the matter of Halifax to deal with first but a home draw in the next round is about as good as Chester could have hoped for. Gateshead have improved under Neil Aspin so it’s a tough draw but at this stage of a competition all draws are tough. Let us know your thoughts via Twitter @ChesterFC_Chron.
Third round date changed
Chester and Halifax have announced the rescheduled third round tie will now take place on Wednesday and not tomorrow as initially planned.
When are the quarter-finals?
The ties will take place on Saturday , February 27 and winning clubs will receive £8,000 from The FA’s prize fund.
From Chester’s perspective, if the Blues can beat FC Halifax Town then the National League fixture with Tranmere Rovers scheduled for that weekend would have to be moved.
The draw in full
Nantwich Town or Stourbridge v Dover Athletic or Guiseley
FC Halifax Town or Chester FC v Gateshead
Grimsby Town v Woking
Sutton United or Bognor Regis Town v Torquay United or Macclesfield Town
Reminder of who's in the draw
These are the all important numbers for the quarter-final draw. Who do you fancy? Let us know your thoughts via Twitter @ChesterFC_Chron.
1 Torquay United or Macclesfield Town
2 Grimsby Town
3 Gateshead
4 FC Halifax Town or Chester FC
5 Woking
6 Dover Athletic or Guiseley
7 Sutton United or Bognor Regis Town
8 Nantwich Town or Stourbridge Read
Burr not best pleased over postponment
Chester boss Steve Burr believes a decision could have been made sooner to postpone Saturday’s FA Trophy game at FC Halifax Town.
The timing of the decision and the fact no inspection had been planned or announced caused widespread frustration for both sets of players and supporters, including many from Chester who were already in Halifax.
Bookies make Mariners the favourites
Reckon the Blues can go all the way and win the FA Trophy
You can get a best priced 20/1 with Bet Victor on Steve Burr’s men lifting the prize at Wembley while Betway have them at 14s.
Grimsby Town, who brushed past Havant & Waterlooville in the third round, are the favourites. Here’s the full market with Bet Victor odds:
Grimsby Town 11/4
Woking 4/1
Dover, Gateshead 8/1
Halifax, Macclesfield, Torquay 12/1
Guiseley 14/1
Chester, Sutton 20/1
Wealdstone 150/1
Rain stopped play
I’m sure you don’t need or want reminding what happened on Saturday but let’s do it anyway. The third round tie between the Blues and Halifax was postponed less than two hours before kick-off because of a waterlogged pitch. It was a farce in truth and a real wasted trip for the players and most of all the fans who made the journey to West Yorkshire.
Guide to the draw
The draw for the FA Trophy quarter-finals is scheduled to take place from 11am at Wembley Stadium in London.
The ties will be pulled out by FA Trophy committee chairman Phil Smith and here’s a list of who is in the draw and the ball numbers:
1 Torquay United or Macclesfield Town
2 Grimsby Town
3 Gateshead
4 FC Halifax Town or Chester FC
5 Woking
6 Dover Athletic or Guiseley
7 Sutton United or Bognor Regis Town
8 Nantwich Town or Stourbridge Read
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to The Chronicle’s live coverage of the FA Trophy quarter-final draw.
The weekend was a washout as far as Chester fans were concerned and the Blues will be keeping an eye on the weather ahead of tomorrow night’s rescheduled third round tie at FC Halifax Town.
The draw is being made at Wembley this morning so stick with us for the best build-up and reaction. You can get involved and let us know your thoughts via Twitter @ChesterFC_Chron.