EIGHT years after their last meeting in the final qualifying round of the FA Cup, Chester City will travel to face Barrow at Holker Street again in 12 days time in the same stage of the competition.
The tie in October 2001 was at one point put in doubt because of Stephen Vaughan’s alleged involvement in both clubs at the same time.
The FA eventually sanctioned the match, when they were informed that a business associate of Vaughan had taken over his interest in Barrow.
Barrow eventually won an emotional and tense game 1-0 with Steve Mungall’s City side rarely matching the intensity and passion of their opponents.
Current Chester manager Jim Harvey, who took charge of his first City match last Saturday, sees positives and negatives in the draw.
He said: “Obviously we were looking for a home match, but the upside is that Barrow are in our division and we know all about them. So they won’t pose any surprises. We have a League match a Gateshead on Saturday and then we will turn all our attentions to the Cup trip to Barrow.”
Harvey revealed that City’s injury victims Shaun Kelly and Rhys Meynell were still receiving treatment, and are unlikely to be available for the trip to Gateshead at the weekend.
Meanwhile, Chester’s youngsters have been drawn away to face Thackley in the final qualifying round of the FA Youth Cup. The match will be played in Yorkshire next Tuesday evening (kick-off 7.45pm).
SOUTHPORT will travel to Gateshead in the FA Cup second round if they can overcome Alfreton Town in a first round replay at Haig Avenue tonight.
