BEDWORTH United are hoping to bring 400 fans to Bootham Crescent for tomorrow’s FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie against York City.

Three official coaches will leave Warwickshire for a game the club have labelled the biggest in their history.

Zamaretto League First division Midlands strugglers Bedworth have never reached the first round proper of the FA Cup and have already played five matches in this season’s competition.

So far, they have disposed of Midland Football Alliance pair Causeway United and Coventry Sphinx, UniBond League first division outfit Leek Town and Rainworth Miners Welfare, who are Northern Counties East League rivals of City’s amateur neighbours Selby and Pickering.

Until last weekend, the Greenbacks had reserved their best 2009/10 performances for the Cup, but a 4-0 home win over early play-off contenders Stourport Swifts represented their first league win of the campaign.

Jerome Murdock, the two-goal hero from that match, will not be eligible, however, having signed from Sphinx following the cup game between the two teams.

Striker Ashley Robinson, who has scored two goals to make him the joint leading marksman with Jason Moore and Matty Blair during the cup run, is expected to replace Murdock after shrugging off an ankle injury.

Left-back Sam Shilton, the son of former England legend Peter, will face a late fitness test on a hamstring injury.

Shilton is the only member of Bedworth’s squad to have played in the Football League after spells with Plymouth, Coventry, Hartlepool and Kidderminster.

Right-back Gary Moran, however, has played at Bootham Crescent in the past for Grimsby reserves and the Greenbacks will also field an Aston Villa goalkeeper between the sticks.

Former Irish under-19 international ’keeper David Bevan has been signed on loan from the Premier League club. He once made the bench against Liverpool for Martin O’Neill’s men.

Bevan, now 20, has been cleared to play in the Cup with regular shot-stopper Andy Kemp sidelined due to a broken foot.

Midfielder Nick Mawl (knee) will be the only other injury absentee for tomorrow’s visitors.

Right-winger Blair, like Shilton meanwhile, also has a notable footballing father in 1980s’ top-flight pro Andy, who played for Coventry, Villa and Sheffield Wednesday.

Bedworth have won one, drawn three and lost four of their league fixtures this season with the defeats coming against Burnham, Rothwell Town, Barton Rovers and Romulus.

The Stourport match also represented the first clean sheet the Greenbacks have kept in the league and saw the side move up to fourth bottom, sandwiched between Beaconsfield SYCOB and Sutton Coldfield Town.

Manager Liam O’Neill is a former Blackburn Rovers apprentice who went on to play Conference football for Cheltenham Town before winding down with Evesham, Banbury and Bedworth, where he is still registered as a player.

The Irishman watched City at Luton in midweek and his fortunes have turned considerably in recent weeks.

At the turn of the month, O’Neill’s job was believed to be in jeopardy but, at the end of the third qualifying round triumph over neighbours Coventry Sphinx, he was hoisted into the air by jubilant fans.

About the challenge his team faces tomorrow, O’Neill said: “Coventry Sphinx beat Stafford Rangers before we beat them so who says we can’t go to York and maybe nick a draw or even win.

“That’s what the Cup is all about. It’s the biggest game, on the biggest stage in front of the biggest crowd, some of my players will ever play in.”


Bedworth’s FA Cup run

Third qualifying round: Coventry Sphinx 0 Bedworth 1 (Matty Blair).

Second qualifying round: Bedworth 2 (Ashley Robinson, Jason Moore) Rainworth MW 1.

First qualifying round replay: Bedworth 3 (Matty Blair, Ashley Robinson, Rory Squire) v Causeway United 0, after 0-0 draw at Causeway.

Preliminary round: Leek Town 2 Bedworth 3 (Fazel Koriya, Sam Shilton, Jason Moore).


Match facts

This is the tenth time City have figured in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup.

Of the previous nine occasions, they have progressed to the competition proper six times.

City’s record at this stage is:

1926/7 Ilkeston Town (A) won 5-1.

1927/8 Shildon (H) replay lost 2-1.

1928/9 Jarrow second replay at St James’ Park Newcastle won 3-2.

1929/30 Scarborough (A) won 3-1.

2004/5 Carlisle United (A) lost 3-1.

2005/6 Gainsborough Trinity (A) won 4-0.

2006/7 Newcastle Benfield (A) won 1-0.

2007/8 Rushall Olympic (H) won 6-0.

2008/9 Mansfield Town (A) replay lost 1-0.


It happened on October 24

• 1953: A 4-1 defeat at Barrow and City remained near the foot of Division Three North. Billy Fenton notched the consolation goal.

• 1972: Jimmy Seal scored his first goal for the club in a 1-1 draw at Plymouth Argyle and City were in the bottom half of the Third (League One).

• 1981: A 1-0 win at Peterborough United with Keith Walwyn on target. City were 17th in Division Four.

• 1987: Ian Helliwell, left, made his debut in a 4-2 defeat at Sunderland in front of 19,314 at Roker Park.

• 2000: A 3-1 win at Halifax Town with Mark Sertori, Lee Bullock and David McNiven on target.


Compiled by David Batters