FOLLOWING the draws for the opening stages of the major FA knockout competitions, Rugby Town will face an away tie at either Gornal Athletic or Hereford-based Westfields in the Preliminary Round of this year’s FA Cup.
Both potential opponents played in the Midland Football Alliance last season – just one level below Valley in the non-league pyramid, although Gornal have now been relegated back down to the West Midlands League following an FA points deduction.
A trip to Gornal would represent a second for Town within just three years, after the Black Country club dispatched Rugby at the same stage of the competition in 2011.
Success in the Preliminary Round fixture on the August 30th would see Valley earn themselves a home tie two weeks later against either Newcastle Town or Chasetown in the First Qualifying Round.
In the FA Trophy, Valley will host NPL outfit Stafford Rangers in the Preliminary Round on October 18th, with a visit to either St Ives or Stratford Town up for grabs in the following round.
Town’s youth team travel to Wednesfield in the opening round of the F.A.Youth Cup, with the game set to played in the week commencing September 8.
Vacancy
With 2012/13 regular keeper Niall Cooper now unlikely to feature for Town in the coming season, boss Dave Stringer has moved quickly to fill the vacancy between the sticks by bringing in the experienced Joe Mellings.
The ex-Banbury, Histon and Daventry stopper has signed league registration forms for Valley, and took part in a practice game against the club’s youth team at the weekend on the Butlin Road astroturf pitch.
Cooper – an ever-present last season – appears to have decided to take a break from the game, despite signing on contract for the club recently.
Leading marksman David Kolodynski (pictured) has also now signed league forms for Town, despite persistent interest from league new boys Hereford United.
United were expelled from the Conference structure recently, and placed in the Southern League Premier Division, but Kolodynski has reconfirmed his earlier commitment to his hometown team, and will now be looking to further extend his club record senior goals tally in 2014/15.
Friendlies
Rugby are scheduled to face two friendly matches over the coming week, with visits to Racing Club Warwick and Coventry Sphinx this Saturday and next Tuesday (July 15) respectively, before they host Conference North Tamworth the following Saturday (July 19) in their first game on the main Butlin Road surface.
