Ex-Clarets in both teams in our FA Cup tie

Adam Kay in the Stalybridge team

Warrington Town became our team in the competition when they won at Parkgate in the First Round Qualifying and one round later became the first of our teams to actually win a game when they beat Bamber Bridge in a replay at their home ground of Cantilever Park where they face Stalybridge Celtic tomorrow.

Stalybridge have only had to play one tie to reach this round, and on the night Warrington were beating Bamber Bridge they too won a replay. After drawing at home to Alfreton Town they won the replay at Alfreton to qualify for this tie.

Although Warrington are at home ,and having a good season, there is no doubt that Stalybridge will be the favourites. Warrington carry the burden of being the Clarets Mad team but, playing in the Evo-Stik First Division North, are two levels lower than their opponents.

Warrington have certainly had a good start to the season and their defeat at Garforth in midweek was their first defeat of the season, and that came after they played much of the game with ten men after goalkeeper Paul Pritchard was sent off. Their only other problem this season has been the deduction of three points by the league for fielding an ineligible player.

Stalybridge meanwhile are enjoying football in the Blue Square Bet North and they sit in mid-table with four wins and six defeats from their ten games.

And now on to those ex-Clarets. Lining up for Warrington Town will be Gareth Farrelly who was with Burnley on loan during the 2003/04 season, arriving at Turf Moor at the same time as Delroy Facey in a deal that saw Glen Little go to Bolton on loan.

Gareth Farrelly will line up for Warrington Town

That he's playing football now is remarkable. He was with Cork City but was forced out of the game in May 2008 when he had surgery to remove a tumour from his pancreas. Thankfully it was all successful and he returned to the game at the start of this season, aged 35, with Warrington Town.

Expected to line up for Stalybridge is Adam Kay who was released by the Clarets at the end of last season. After coming through the club's youth system he spent two years as a professional at Turf Moor but the closest he got to first team action was being named as a substitute on a couple of occasions.

He's now joined Stalybridge and was in their side for their last league game when they faced Alfreton Town who gained revenge for the cup defeat by beating them 2-1.

Tomorrow's game at Cantilever Park will see the winners go through, along with 39 other clubs, to the Fourth Round Qualifying where they will be joined by the clubs in the Blue Square Premier League.