FA Cup First Round

FC United of Manchester badge

Rochdale AFC take on FC United of Manchester tonight (Friday 5 November), in a match that marks the start of the FA Cup 1st Round. This is the first time FCUM have reached this stage of the competition, with Rochdale the hardest competition yet faced. 

Less than 10 minutes into the league derby against Oldham on Tuesday night, the referee abandoned the match as the playing surface was unsafe and unusable. Waterproof pitch covers were added yesterday, ready for the big match tonight.

Spotland Stadium’s Head Groundsman Phil Collinson said of the pitch covers yesterday: “I think they have just gone down in time because the rain is really coming down now. We have had the inspection cover off the drain at the corner of the Sandy Lane and Willbutts Stand and there’s an enormous amount of water coming through, water that would have been on the pitch.

“I’m very confident we can get the game on now, these covers are seamless and provide a high degree of protection and they have gone down on a 100% playable pitch.”

Kick off is at 7.45pm tonight (Friday) and it is expected that most of Spotland Stadium will be filled. The game is due to be televised live on ESPN.

Rochdale are the clear bookies’ favourite tonight, after settling comfortably into League One, but FC United have some experienced players, with strikers Glynn Hurst and Mike Norton, who has scored 12 goals in 17 starts, and winger Carlos Roca being particularly highlighted as those who could cause some trouble. FC United are also on the back of a 6-game winning-streak so it might be more of a battle than it appears to the bookies.

The Rochdale AFC v Oldham Athletic game is due to be rearranged on Monday 8 November.

Despite what the back of the tickets say, both clubs agree that those who tried to attend the abandoned match should be able to attend the new match without further charge, and they intend to swap old tickets for new ones. Old tickets will not be valid for the rearranged game.

Those who cannot attend can ask for a refund. Season ticket holders should provide Voucher D from the back of their season ticket book.

Tickets will be available from 9am on Wednesday 10 November until 5pm on Wednesday 24 November. Old tickets must be swapped at the place of purchase, ie the Rochdale or Oldham ticket offices.

On the advice of the police, no further tickets will be sold for the rearranged game.