Chichester City’s run of luck in the FA Cup is showing no signs of running out after they were chosen to host Monday night’s televised second round draw.
Isthmian League’s South Division City, the lowest ranked team left in the competition, will host the draw after their Oaklands Park was selected by the Football Association and BBC on Friday.
Set to be conducted by Dion Dublin and Mark Bright, City’s own TV bonus ball in the competition will be broadcast live on BBC 2 and BBC iPlayer from 7pm on Monday (11 November).
The second round is scheduled for the weekend of Saturday 30 November with winning clubs receiving £54,000 from The FA prize fund.
City hit the jackpot in the televised draw for the first round proper, banking £36,000 without kicking a ball when they scooped the cash-laden bye created by Bury’s demise by coming last out of the hat.
Manager Miles Rutherford and goalkeeper Steven Mowthorpe were present at the draw, hosted by fellow step 4 outfit Maldon & Tiptree three weeks ago.
The rest of the players, management and club officials gathered at Oaklands Park to watch the drama unfold as Chi’s ball, number 71 was last to be drawn by Karen Carney and Jermaine Beckford.
Chichester City players react to receiving a bye into the second round of the #FACup! LIMBS! ?pic.twitter.com/Dgl8RVLo59
— The Non-League Paper (@NonLeaguePaper) October 21, 2019
Chichester City chairman Andy Bell couldn’t have been happier about the news, telling the club’s website: “It’s a massive moment in the club’s history, it’s a unique experience for everyone involved.
“To think how far the club has come in the last couple of years and now be the centre of a national event like the FA Cup draw, I have to pinch myself sometimes!
“We’d love to be able to accommodate more people but unfortunately we have limited space so it will be strictly invite-only.”
Chichester have already played six FA Cup games this season; their campaign kicking off back in August with a home win over Erith Town.
This season sees their first appearance in the first round proper of the world’s oldest cup competition since 1960.
Ball numbers:
1 IPSWICH TOWN OR LINCOLN CITY
2 OXFORD CITY OR SOLIHULL MOORS
3 CRAWLEY TOWN OR SCUNTHORPE UNITED
4 HARROGATE TOWN OR PORTSMOUTH
5 COLCHESTER UNITED OR COVENTRY CITY
6 SUNDERLAND OR GILLINGHAM
7 CARLISLE UNITED
8 BOLTON WANDERERS OR PLYMOUTH ARGYLE
9 YORK CITY OR ALTRINCHAM
10 WREXHAM OR ROCHDALE
11 MAIDSTONE UNITED ORTORQUAY UNITED
12 LEYTON ORIENT OR MALDON & TIPTREE
13 CHIPPENHAM TOWN OR NORTHAMPTON TOWN
14 YEOVIL TOWN OR HARTLEPOOL UNITED
15 CAMBRIDGE UNITED OR EXETER CITY
16 STOURBRIDGE OR EASTLEIGH
17 SALFORD CITY OR BURTON ALBION
18 FOREST GREEN ROVERS OR BILLERICAY TOWN
19 BRISTOL ROVERS OR BROMLEY
20 EBBSFLEET UNITED OR NOTTS COUNTY
21 WALSALL OR DARLINGTON
22 NANTWICH TOWN OR AFC FYLDE
23 AFC WIMBLEDON OR DONCASTER ROVERS
24 HAYES & YEADING UNITED OR OXFORD UNITED
25 SHREWSBURY TOWN OR BRADFORD CITY
26 GRIMSBY TOWN OR NEWPORT COUNTY
27 GATESHEAD OR OLDHAM ATHLETIC
28 MANSFIELD TOWN OR CHORLEY
29 DOVER ATHLETIC OR SOUTHEND UNITED
30 TRANMERE ROVERS OR WYCOMBE WANDERERS
31 CARSHALTON ATHLETIC OR BOSTON UNITED
32 CHELTENHAM TOWN OR SWINDON TOWN
33 ACCRINGTON STANLEY OR CREWE ALEXANDRA
34 BARNET OR FLEETWOOD TOWN
35 MACCLESFIELD TOWN OR KINGSTONIAN
36 MAIDENHEAD UNITED OR ROTHERHAM UNITED
37 BLACKPOOL OR MORECAMBE
38 MILTON KEYNES DONS OR PORT VALE
39 STEVENAGE OR PETERBOROUGH UNITED
40 CHICHESTER CITY
Images courtesy of chichestercityfc.co.uk/Twitter
