Class of 92 back in FA Cup spotlight with Salford
LONDON — Didcot, the lowest-ranked team in the FA Cup, will play League Two’s Exeter City at home in the first round proper.
The Oxfordshire outfit plays in the Southern Division One South & West, the eighth tier of English football.
Wigan, which won the cup in 2013, travels to fellow League One side Bury while 2008 winner Portsmouth will host Macclesfield Town.
Thirty-two non-league sides join 48 league clubs in the round, with ties beginning on Friday, Nov. 6.
Among the other eye-catching ties, last season’s quarter-finalist Bradford City of League One travels to National League outfit Aldershot.
Meanwhile, Salford City, owned by members of Manchester United’s famous Class of 92, will make its maiden appearance in the first round against Notts County.
United legends Gary and Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, who all won the FA Cup in their illustrious Old Trafford playing careers, have helped revive the fortunes of the Evo-Stik League Northern Premier side since buying it last year.
Now they will be back in the FA Cup spotlight after Monday’s draw paired their non-league outfit against fourth tier Notts County, which won the competition in 1894, at Moor Lane on the weekend of Nov. 6-9.
Asked for his thoughts about the draw on Twitter, Gary Neville, who now works as a television pundit and a member of England’s coaching staff, responded: “Delighted! A big game at Moor Lane!“
Neville also responded to a tweet from Notts County’s official account, suggesting Salford will need to make some changes to be ready for the encounter.
“How many fans do you have travelling? We need more toilets and burger vans!” he tweeted.
Salford average around 500 fans for their home games, although there were 1,019 present for the win over Southport in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round last weekend.
“I’m delighted for everybody at the club for all the work that’s been put in,” Salford striker Danny Webber said after the draw on BBC Two.
“It was important we got a league club and it will be great for the lads to pit their wits against a league club to see where we stand. “It’s exciting for everybody at Salford.”
Aduriz lifts Bilbao
Aritz Aduriz continued his superb start to the season by scoring two goals to lead Athletic Bilbao to a 3-0 win over Sporting Gijon Monday.
The 34-year-old striker, who recently signed a contract extension through 2017, is enjoying a fruitful spell in front of goal.
His tally of 14 goals in all competitions this season sees him top the overall scoring charts in Spain, and his brace moved him to within one of the league’s top scorer Neymar’s eight goals. Markel Susaeta opened the scoring in the 29th minute.
Aduriz netted off a rebound after his penalty kick was saved in the 42nd, and scored again in the 67th.
The win moved the Basque club into 12th place, further clear of the relegation zone while Sporting fell to 17th.
