Formed in 1869, they lined up as one of the Cup’s original 15 entrants two years later, their First Round tie against Marlow on 11th November 1871 being played on the first-ever day of competition.

Maidenhead have taken part in every season, apart from 1876-77, and once reached the last four!

Their Cup ambitions are more modest these days, as befits a side that hasn’t made it through to the First Round Proper for 33 years. On that occasion an away tie at Isthmian League Enfield would hardly have been the draw they were looking for.

Tonight the Maidenhead "Magpies" host Kent League Whitstable Town at York Road in a Second Qualifying Round replay after Saturday’s surprising 0-0 draw. The prize to the winners is a home tie with Windsor & Eton on 16th October, a bit of a local derby for Maidenhead.

There are 13 Cup replays altogether tonight and one of them, Kettering Town v Stafford Rangers, is not only a re-match of Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Stafford (Craig McIlwain equalised for Kettering in stoppage time) but also a re-match of the 1979 FA Trophy Final. Alf Wood scored both in a 2-0 win for Stafford before a 32,000 crowd in the Wembley sunshine.

The winners go to Fleetwood Town or Runcorn FC Halton, also replaying tonight at Witton.

Team Bath of the Southern League’s Premier Division were only formed four years ago but have already made Cup history.

They became the first student team since Oxford University in 1880 to play in the Competition Proper when they reached the First Round in 2002.

Second Division Mansfield Town beat them 4-2 then but they still have another chance of glory this time.

A replay win at Hallen tonight (7.30) will give them a home tie against Bishop’s Cleeve.