Sittingbourne vs Parkway
FA Cup Third Qualifying Round
Saturday, September 28
Staxson Stadium. 3pm KO

Parkway put their league troubles aside as they look to carve out a slice of club history with a 450-mile round trip to Kent this weekend to face Sittingbourne FC in the third qualifying round of this season’s FA Cup competition.

Parkway’s previous best FA Cup run ended in the same stage as this year’s competition. In 2022/23, they pushed Oxford City (National League South) to a replay, drawing 1-1 after a last-minute equaliser from Oxford’s Candice Carroll. The replay again saw a last-minute Oxford equaliser from Josh Parker, as the Hoops went onto win in extra time. Parkway gained revenge later in the season, defeating Oxford City 4-2 on penalties in the FA Trophy. 

Kent-based Isthmian League South side Sittingbourne, currently sit fifth with nine points from four games, will face Parkway for the first time. Their last match was a 6-1 Kent Senior Cup defeat to Deal Town.

Sittingbourne progressed to this round of the FA Cup thanks to a 62nd-minute Henry Sinal goal against Lordswood, a match streamed live on BBC iPlayer. This is their first third-round qualifying appearance in eleven years. Their best FA Cup run saw them reach the second round in both 1925-26 and 1928-29.

Friday’s trip to Kent provides Parkway with a welcome distraction from their difficult start to the league season. A 9-3 defeat to Hungerford last weekend was a setback, but a spirited midweek display against Poole Town, although resulting in defeat, demonstrated the team’s resilience and featured another impressive long-range goal from Callum Hall. Currently second-bottom after nine league games, Parkway overcame Baffins Milton Rovers and Westbury United (4-3) in earlier FA Cup rounds. A victory in Kent would create club history and inject much-needed optimism into their season.

The Yellows will travel to Kent with some new faces in the squad. Previous Exeter City Under 18 GK Andrew Sowden-Bird returns to Bolitho for his second spell with the club after an emergency loan in 2023. The club have also added another attacking option with Portuguese striker Evandro Aurélio Belo Flores signing in midweek following international clearance. Mitch Beardmore & Joe Wragg will travel after missing the midweek defeat and Alex Cairo will face a late fitness test. Ryan Brett is unavailable due to work commitments and Carlo Garside misses out as he continues his recovery from injury.  

The club extends its gratitude to all the supporters making the trip to Kent this weekend, wishing them a safe journey and an enjoyable weekend.

For fans not travelling to Kent, there will be live commentary of the game as Sittingbourne vs Parkway is the featured game on BBC Radio Devon this weekend.  
Stadium Address  
The Staxson Stadium,
Woodstock Rd,
Broadoak Rd,
Sittingbourne
ME9 8AD 

Tickets for the fixture start from £6 and can be purchased in advance HERE