So after all the excitement of Saturday, a bruising game for myself yesterday in the First Round of the Challenge Cup (Sunday League's FA Cup) I thought what better way to waste time at work than start the discussion around this week's opponents, the FA Cup and anything else Chippenham. 

So Cirencester, what do we know? Well as many have eluded too Cirencester play at the 4500 capacity Corinium Stadium in Cirencester. They play on an artificial pitch much to the chagrin of many I am sure but I don't personally think with the amount of exposure to 3G/4G pitches these days that our lads won't be too phased playing on the surface.

Cirencester, as you would expect do boast a few familiar faces in their ranks to Chippenham fans of all generations starting with their manager Charlie Griffin. For people around my age Charlie was the original poster boy for Chippenham Town around the 98/99 season. Charlie lit up the Park with 21 goals in 31 appearances earning him a prestigious move to the Football League with Swindon Town for the 99/00 season. After failing to deliver quite the same way he had in the blue and white of Chippenham, Charlie was then sent out on loan to Yeovil and then Woking before signing for them in 2001. In 2003 the hometown hero returned and apparently loved Hardenhuish Park even more with a further 23 goals in 32 appearances earning him a move back to the Football League with FGR and then famously Wycombe Wanderers where in an FA Cup game, Charlie became the person who broke Petr Cech's unbelievable run of minutes without conceding for Chelsea. Sadly that was to be the only celebration for Charlie that day as Chelsea's millions overpowered Wycombe for the victory. A fall back through the divisions once again allowed Charlie to return to Chippenham and this time once again he found his way to the net 6 times in 10 games for the bluebirds before moving to Cirencester as Player/Manager in 2016. With 264 in 567 appearances for many different clubs at many different levels, Charlie Griffin, a man constantly linked with Chippenham over his career is certainly a man that deserves a little love from the Chippenham faithful when he leads Cirencester out against Chippenham for the FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round. 

Other familiar faces will include long time club servant Alan Griffin (Charlie's younger brother). Another Chippenham legend with 3 spells at the club under his belt, scoring copious amounts of goals and being a real fan favourite in his time with Chippenham, he left for Cirencester in the 2016 season, unable to get regular playing time with Andy Sandell and Dave Pratt preferred up top in a season that a few Chippenham fans might remember ;) 

Also a part of that Championship winning side, Cirencester boast Michael Pook in their ranks as well. Always a particular favourite of mine when he donned the blue and will be nice to see him on Saturday as well, hopefully he stays nice and quiet between 3pm to 5pm though. 

Other than this to many fans Cirencester will be an unknown quantity with the last game against Cirencester ending in a 4-0 victory for the bluebirds at the Corinium stadium this is really as much as we have to go on with Ciren as competitively we have not played since the 2016 season where at home we handed Cirencester a 4-1 defeat and were held 3-3 on Boxing Day at the Corinium. 

All in all I am expecting a fairly standard FA Cup tie, lots of passion from both sides, lots of effort from the underdogs but I am predicting a comfortable win for Chippenham here. We should have a little bit too much for them in terms of fitness, ability and togetherness. The game against Chelmsford I believe provided us with many positives, chief among them being that we scored 3 goals against a very resolute and strong Chelmsford side. With a very young and inexperienced back line, to withstand that level of barrage from 4 strikers such as Chelmsford boast was nothing short of miraculous and the fact that we are unhappy to not have taken all three points at the end is a real testament to the gaffer, the players and all our hard working backroom team. 

A return to winning ways this weekend, coming into the game unbeaten in our last 2 fixtures with a win against Tonbridge and a draw with Chelmsford, 5 goals scored in those 2 games and a prize of nearly £7000 to compete for this weekend should see us enter the Corinium Stadium high on confidence and looking to get the job done and put ourselves in the hat for the 3rd Qualifying round. 

See you there and as always, join the Optimistic Army (Even room for you Swayne Close) 

On another note I would just like to congratulate all participants in the Friendship Cup yesterday, a long standing tradition between Chippenham Rep XI and the Abiltiy Counts side which in a stunning upset ran out 6-5 winners when the smoke cleared. Hopefully a nice day was had by all, lots of funds raised for the AC side and just want to personally wish Wayne a very speedy recovery from his injury, hope it's not too serious mate 

Last edited by TheVoice (16/9/2019 11:24 AM)