We have been rewarded for our high league finish last season with a bye in the FA Trophy First Round. That sees us with a blank Saturday on 1st November and so we had agreed to bring forward our New Years Day fixture against crowd pullers Thurrock. With the high attendances that Thurrock are attracting to their ground we had hoped that their supporters might travel in similar numbers and therefore considerably add to our average gate. Thurrock agreed to the date change but the Ryman League refused to sanction it because our New Years Day game here has been selected for the pools coupon!