YORK City manager Martin Foyle will run the rule over FA Cup fourth qualifying round opponents Bedworth United tonight.

The Minstermen have been drawn at home to Bedworth, who will be hoping to claim their first Zamaretto Southern League first division Midlands win of the season when they entertain Romulus this evening.

Second-bottom Bedworth set up their October 24 trip to Bootham Crescent with a 1-0 victory at Coventry Phoenix, having previously disposed of Rainworth MW (2-1) and Causeway United (3-0 after a replay) in front of their own fans.

The Warwickshire club have never reached the competition’s first round proper but have been knocked out at this stage on three occasions against Chelmsford City (1983/4), Redditch United (1989/90) and Boston United (1996/7).

But Rothwell Town, Burnham and Barton Rovers have all beaten Bedworth this season and Mossley thumped them 5-2 to end their interest in the FA Trophy.

Foyle admitted that he knew very little about Bedworth but is familiar with at least one player on the Greenbacks’ books – Sam Shilton – the son of his former Southampton team-mate and England legend Peter.

Left-back Shilton, now 31, joined Bedworth this season after being released by Blue Square North outfit Solihull Moors but he previously commanded a £125,000 fee when he moved from Plymouth to Coventry and has also played for Kidderminster in the Football League.

Ahead of Foyle’s trip to Bedworth’s Oval ground, where the club averages gates of 211, the City boss said: “I will be there tonight as you have to do things properly.

“There will be no differences to how we would prepare for a league game. We will give them the utmost respect so there can be no potential banana skins.

“I will be looking to see how they play and what sort of side they are because I don’t know much other than that they’re from Warwickshire.

I’ve obviously come across Sam (before) as I used to play with Shilts and he trained with us when he was a little boy at Southampton.”

Foyle added he was delighted to be entering the FA Cup at Bootham Crescent, saying: “It’s a fantastic draw for us because we wanted to be at home regardless of whether our opponents were Conference standard or lower. We need to progress as far as we can in the competition so we can make some money.”

Before tonight’s match, Foyle will also run the rule over four trialists and several youth-team players in a behind-closed-doors reserve match against Hull this lunchtime.

England squad member Jimmy Bullard is expected to play for the Tigers as he continues his comeback from knee surgery.

Foyle also still has one eye on the loan market after missing out on two targets prior to Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Salisbury, adding: “The clubs involved both decided to hang on to them.”