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31
Jul
Knaresborough Town Women to play in FA Cup for the first time
Knaresborough Town Women FC will play in the FA Cup for the first time this season.
The Manse Lane side has been named in the 538-club draw, alongside Women’s Super League giants such as Manchester United, Arsenal and current holders Chelsea.
They qualify for the competition following their promotion to the Premier Division of the West Riding County Women’s Football League after a final-day 15-0 thrashing of Hepworth United.
Mike Bligh’s side will have a task on their hands if they want to face such illustrious opposition, though.
All Women’s Super League clubs are exempt from qualifying until the fourth round proper — the eighth stage of qualifying — in January.
Starting in the preliminary round on August 24, Boro’ would have to pass through seven rounds and face at least three semi-professional or professional clubs to get there.
However, there are financial incentives for progression in this competition, and the club, as they have shown time and time again since their inception, will dare to dream.
If Knaresborough were to win in the preliminary round, the club would receive £600; if they lost, they would receive £150. If they were to make it to the next round, they would be guaranteed another £450, with an £1,800 prize for progressing.
If they were to reach the first round proper, in which the Women’s National League Premier Division teams enter the tournament, the club would be guaranteed another £1,500. The prize for progressing is £6,000.
There are no easy games in this competition, though. Also included in the draw are Harrogate Town, Harrogate Railway, and Leeds United — who beat Knaresborough 4-0 in the semi-final of the County Cup last season.
The club will also enter the season having lost the league top scorer and player of the season, 17-year-old Ellis Baxter, to a higher division.
Club manager Mike Bligh said:
It's really exciting times at the club and it just goes to show how far we have come in a short space of time. We continue to create our own history - this is our very first encounter with the prestigious competition so we couldn't be any prouder.
Just being part of the competition adds that extra layer of excitement to the season and the team are looking forward to continue to write our history.
The draw for the preliminary and first rounds of qualifying will be announced on August 4.
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