AFC Rushden & Diamonds draw Burton Albion in first FA Cup first-round appearance
The eighth-tier Northamptonshire club will travel to League One opposition on 7 November after a qualifying run that included wins over Morecambe and Braintree Town.
AFC Rushden & Diamonds have been drawn away to League One side Burton Albion in the FA Cup first round, the eighth-tier Northamptonshire club’s first appearance at that stage, the BBC reported on 20 October. The tie is scheduled for 7 November at Burton’s Pirelli Stadium.
The BBC said kick-off is set for 15:00 at the stadium in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Diamonds play in Northern Premier League Division One Midlands, while Burton play in England’s third tier. The draw gives the club a match against Football League opposition after a qualifying campaign that began in August.
How AFC Rushden & Diamonds reached the first round
The club’s results page records a 2-1 qualifying win over Morecambe on 17 October. It also lists earlier FA Cup victories against Kimberley Miners Welfare, Long Eaton United, Desborough Town and Braintree Town. The BBC said Diamonds opened their campaign with a 5-0 win at Kimberley Miners Welfare and described the Morecambe result as an upset against a National League North team two tiers above them.
About 200 people gathered at the club for the draw, according to the BBC. Chairman Rob Usher said: ‘Let’s go put Diamonds back on the map.’ Asked whether Diamonds could beat Burton, he replied: ‘Yes, 100%.’
Manager Elliot Sandy said reaching this stage had been the club’s ambition for 15 months. ‘This club really deserves it and we’re going to enjoy it,’ he said. Sandy paid tribute to the volunteers, his assistant manager and others working behind the scenes, as well as the players who have carried the club through qualifying.
Why the FA Cup draw matters to Diamonds
AFC Rushden & Diamonds was founded in 2011 after the demise of the former Rushden & Diamonds club, according to the BBC. The original club reached the FA Cup third round twice around the turn of the millennium, losing to Leeds United and then Sheffield United after taking each tie to a replay. It later played in Division Two, equivalent to today’s League One, before financial problems led to its demise. The November fixture brings its successor into the first round for the first time.
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Sources and context
- Rushden & Diamonds draw League One Burton Albion in FA CupBBC
- Fixtures & Results – League & Cup – AFC Rushden & DiamondsAFC Rushden & Diamonds
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.