Bransay Make History with FA Cup First Round Qualification
In an unforgettable moment for Bransay Athletic, the Irons have reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first time in their history, stunning National League side Altrincham with a 3-2 victory in the Fourth Qualifying Round at the J. Davidson Stadium.
The triumph, witnessed by a record 46 travelling Bransay fans among the 1,566 in attendance, marks a monumental milestone for a club that began its journey in the North Northumberland League just nine seasons ago. The Irons now face National League outfit Dorking Wanderers in the First Round at Meadowbank, pitting two grassroots success stories against each other in a highly anticipated clash.
The match at Altrincham was a rollercoaster. In the 26th minute, Dylan Thomas gave the hosts the lead, heading in Charlie Staniland’s cross despite a valiant diving effort from Bransay goalkeeper Craig Daly. The Irons, undaunted, roared back in the second half.
In the 55th minute, Daly’s long clearance found Ryan Tioffo, who played a precise ball into Zoltán Németh’s run, allowing the 20-year-old striker to poke past goalkeeper Scott and level the score. Two minutes later, Rhys Evans, filling in at right-back, curled a stunning free kick from the edge of the box around the wall and into the near right corner to put Bransay ahead. Altrincham fought back in the 75th minute, Thomas’ free kick crashing in off the post to make it 2-2. But the defining moment came in the 85th minute when 17-year-old academy graduate Andrew Brownhill unleashed a sensational left-footed curler from the edge of the box, crashing in off the underside of the bar. Brownhill sprinted the length of the pitch to celebrate with the 46 travelling Bransay fans, whose roars echoed through the J. Davidson Stadium.
This victory caps an extraordinary FA Cup run for Bransay, who have already dispatched Newark & Sherwood United, Grimsby Borough, Trafford, Wroxham and West Didsbury & Chorlton. The Irons’ journey has brought significant financial rewards through gate receipts and prize money, crucial as the club transitions to semi-professional status in the Northern League Division One.
Now, as one of the lowest-ranked teams remaining alongside Rochdalians, Bransay face Dorking Wanderers - a club with their own remarkable rise from non-league obscurity - in what promises to be a captivating First Round showdown.
Manager Callum Baird was visibly emotional after the match, reflecting on the historic achievement. “I’m lost for words, honestly. Nine years ago, we were playing in front of 75 fans in the North Northumberland League and now we’ve gone and beaten a National League side to reach the FA Cup First Round.
“Those 46 fans who made the trip across the sea were our 12th man - they never stopped. This is for them, for Bransay, for every lad in that dressing room. Németh and Tioffo were class, Evans showed his quality and Brownhill – that’s the stuff you dream of. Dorking is a massive challenge, but we don’t back down. This is our chance to show the football world what we’re made of.”
The upcoming clash with Dorking Wanderers offers Bransay a chance to test themselves against another club that has defied the odds, with both sides embodying the spirit of grassroots football.
A win could see the Irons face Football League opposition in the Second Round, a prospect that seemed unthinkable when Baird took charge. With the club also advancing to the FA Vase First Round against FC St. Helens on 16th October, Bransay Athletic are riding a wave of momentum, proving that their relentless ascent through the English football pyramid is no fluke.
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