The FA Cup dream continues for Marine FC as the Northern Premier League Division One North West side qualified for the FA Cup third round for the second time in club history. The eighth-tier club defeated League Two side Colchester United on penalties in the first round, then dispatched sixth-tier Havant & Waterloo by a scoreline of 1-0 in the second round.
The Mariners reward: a third round tie at The Marine Travel Arena against current Premier League leaders Tottenham Hotspur.
We have drawn @SpursOfficial at home in the Third Round of the @EmiratesFACup! #COYM
— Marine Football Club (@MarineAFC) November 30, 2020
Located in the coastal town of Crosby in the northern outskirts of Liverpool, the Mariners are just the second eighth-tier side ever to reach the third round of the FA Cup.
To add to the momentous occasion, eased COVID restrictions will allow Marine (hopefully) to have 1,600 fans in the stands to witness FA Cup history the weekend of January 9, 2020.
Marine FC ties its furthest excursion into the FA Cup, as it also advanced for the FA Cup third round back in 1992-93.
The matchup with Premier Leaguer side Tottenham is the biggest ever gap (seven divisions) in the English football pyramid between FA Cup third round opponents.
My favourite thing about the stadium at Marine are the numbers on the fences that are on both sides of the pitch
They correspond to the numbers of the houses that back on to the pitch so they know what door to knock to get their ball back pic.twitter.com/yvCh80fUXM— Jim (@Barcajim3) November 30, 2020
Fellow eighth-tier side Canvey Island also has a chance to make history should the Gulls defeat Boreham Wood in their second round match on Monday, November 30. Canvey's potential third round opponent is Championship side Millwall, which would be a great storyline itself, but watching an eighth-tier team take on the Premier League leaders in a competitive FA Cup match is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and truly a piece of footballing history..
The very non-league football team at the end of my road, @MarineAFC, has somehow made it to the third round of the FA Cup and their goalkeeper has just returned to the ground from the local Coop with drinks to celebrate. pic.twitter.com/UC0rpEUjFe
— Stuart Wilks-Heeg (@StuartWilksHeeg) November 29, 2020
No matter where you are Saturday, January 9, 2020, make sure you watch Marine FC of the Northern Premier League Division One North West take on Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup Third Round.
