The 3rd Round of the FA Trophy sees the 24 National League clubs join the competition along with the 26 clubs from National Leagues North and South, ten Step Three teams, and the final four clubs from Step Four who have made it through the previous rounds.
Two Step Four clubs face each other to guarantee at least one will be in the 4th Round, as Leatherhead FC host their fellow Isthmian League Division One South Central rivals Harrow Borough.
A third Step Four side still standing is this season’s current top scorers Anstey Nomads who travel to Hartlepool United looking to continue the club’s current record Trophy run. A win for Hartlepool would equal their best Trophy run, so history will be made in that tie.
Chatham Town versus Plymouth Parkway is the only other tie that will guarantee the winner will be celebrating either a new record Trophy run or a record equalling run. This tie is also the only other one to guarantee that a club from below the National League will be in the last thirty-two.
The final Step Four side involved in this 3rd Round, Clitheroe FC, have a home tie against two times FA Trophy winners York City of the National League to try to reach the Last 32 for the first time. York City are one of 14 former Trophy winners involved in this season’s 3rd Round. Gateshead FC versus Morecambe FC sees two of them face each other.
Holders Aldershot Town have a tough opening game in the defence of their title with a trip to fellow National League side Eastleigh FC. This will be their third Trophy game with one win apiece in past meetings.
That tie is one of eight that has happened in the Trophy before. The most common tie involves two former finalists as Tamworth FC and Buxton FC meet in the competition for the fourth time. The Lambs have a two-to-one win ratio over the Bucks in past games.
Cheshunt FC has had the longest wait to avenge a past Trophy defeat having lost 2-1 in their only other game in the competition against Wealdstone FC, a massive 50 years ago.
Forest Green Rovers has had to wait 42 years themselves for the opportunity to avenge a 1-0 replay defeat by Weston-super-Mare in the competition. A similar win for the Seagulls would equal their best ever run in the competition.
Seven clubs overall would equal their best run to the Last 32 with a victory in this round, with a further seven clubs looking to make club history by getting to the 4th Round for the first time.
Of those clubs Harborough Town have to overcome Carlisle United from two levels above to achieve it, AFC Totton would need to win away at higher league Woking FC, South Shields host fellow National League North rivals Macclesfield FC, whilst Scunthorpe United seemingly have the best chance of reaching the last 32 for the first time with a home tie against lower level Peterborough Sports.
