So it's that time of the year again, a time of year we sadly missed last year but always one of the more exciting pieces of radio (outside of Jamie's Commentary) in the non-League calendar, the draw for the FA Cup 4QR. This (for anyone new around here) is the round where we find out who we will be playing for a place in the First Round Proper. With the prize money on offer for this round a whopping £9,375 to add to the already accumulated £9,000 this offers a huge financial incentive to the club as well as the prestige of potentially going up against the likes of Portsmouth, Derby, Ipswich and the local big boys Rovers and Swindon. With half of the gate going to Chippenham in every round, the chance to go to a big club or have a sellout at the TS Stadium is a chance that comes around once in a blue moon however to do so, we are going to have to win a tricky 4th Round Qualifying tie where nerves will be high, expectation will be rife and there is no margin for error. 

The draw for the 4th QR will take place at 3.15 on TalkSport2 Radio and the draw is regional with the North and South teams split into two separate draws and most importantly, the National League sides are now into the hat. The numbers for the draw and most importantly, one of these sides that Chippenham will face are as follows. 

1- Aldershot Town (National League)
2- Barnet (National League)
3- Boreham Wood (National League)
4- Bromley (National League)
5- Dagenham & Redbridge (National League) 
6- Dorking Wanderers (National League) 
7- Eastleigh (National League)
8- Maidenhead United (National League)
9- Maidstone United (National League) 
10- Southend United (National League)
11- Torquay United (National League)
12- Wealdstone (National League)
13- Woking (National League)
14- Yeovil (National League)
15- Needham Market (Southern League Premier Division Central)
16- Billericay Town (Isthmian Premier League)/Biggleswade Town (Southern League Division One Central)
17- AFC Hornchurch (Isthmian Premier League)
18- Chelmsford City (National League South)
19- Banbury United (National League North)
20- Taunton Town (National League South)
21- Folkestone Invicta (Isthmian Premier League)
22- Hendon (Southern Premier League)
23- Weston Super Mare (Southern Premier League) 
24- Havant & Waterlooville (National League South)
25- CHIPPENHAM TOWN (National League South)
26- Hampton & Richmond Borough (National League South)
27- Weymouth (National League South)
28- Oxford City (National League South)/Plymouth Parkway (Southern Premier League)
29- Merthyr Town (Southern Premier League)
30- Eastbourne Borough (National League South) 
31- Hereford (National League North) 
32- Sevenoaks Town (Isthmian South East)
33- Beckenham Town (Isthmian South East)
34- Bracknell Town (Isthmian Central)
35- Farnborough (National League South)
36- Ebbsfleet United (National League South) 

With 14 National League sides in the draw and 18 ties to be played, as there are every year there are going to be a lot of prayers from the likes of the lower ranked sides that they find each other in the draw and allow for some more winnable ties to reach the holy grail of the First Round Proper. Whilst Chippenham are not the small fry they once were at this stage of the competition, they are by no means one of the dominant sides in this draw. To progress, Horgan and his troops will be keeping a keen eye on this draw this afternoon looking for both a home tie and a team from our level or below to stand the best chance of progress. 

Chippenham have been at this stage as recently as 2020/21 where after heroics in a penalty shootout in an earlier round saw Town dispatch high flyers Ebbsfleet United, a late goal from Danny Green for Concord sent the Bluebirds home licking their wounds and bemoaning their luck as Concord moved on to a tie with Stevenage and Chippenham went back to the National League South campaign. Happier memories at this stage have seen Chippenham beat Whyteleaf 3-0 to book a First Round Proper date with Northampton in 2019/20 under Mark Collier with current Chippenham manager, Gary Horgan his assistant. 

The 4th QR hasn't always been a happy hunting ground for CTFC but with the lads showing last season they can handle the pressure of big, must win games and knockout football. As long as we hear ball 25 come out of the draw first giving us a home tie, we must be confident we can give anyone a game on our day! Being at this stage is a fantastic achievement in itself and whatever the outcome, we hope to see as many of you as possible for the game, wherever it may be! Stay tuned to find out the fate of the Bluebirds in the Emirates FA CUP!