Whilst the South West's four professional sides crashed out of this season's FA Cup in the first round, several players with connections with the game in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset are set to feature for Dorchester Town in their meeting with Luton Town tomorrow.
The Magpies reached the second round for the first time in over 30 years after beating Plymouth Argyle at home in the last round thanks to a second half strike from Exeter City loanee Jake Gosling who was also on the Pilgrims books earlier in his career as a junior player.
Gosling is not the only player in Dorchester manager Phil Simkin's squad who has connections with the Grecians. Goalkeeper Jason Matthews made 14 appearances for Exeter at the turn of the millennium, which included a substitute appearance in their FA Cup third round tie against Everton, for Stuart Naylor, in the 1999-00 season.
Like goal scoring hero Gosling, Jake Reid is also on loan at the Avenue Stadium from the Grecians and left winger Neil Martin and striker Ben Watson have played for Exeter before during their respective careers.
Former Exeter and Torquay striker Richard Logan recently joined the Magpies on non-contract terms, but won't be featuring against Luton as he is cup-tied.
Owing to the geographical proximity of Dorchester to Yeovil, the Avenue Stadium is also home to a number of former Yeovil Town players, namely midfielder Nick Crittenden, who played a key role in helping the Glovers win promotion to the Football League in 2003, left back Jake Smeeton and Lewis Morgan.
Long serving player-coach Mark Jermyn, who provided the assist for Gosling's goal against Plymouth, started his career with Torquay United and made a solitary league appearance for the Gulls in the 1998-99 season. Striker Sam Malsom was also on Torquay's books early in his career and he also had a brief spell, during his varied career, with Plymouth Argyle.
Lastly, but by no means least, Arran Pugh arrived from Truro City shortly before the Magpies first round tie with the Pilgrims due to the financial problems that have seen the Cornish club enter Administration.
Should Dorchester better their FA Trophy result from earlier this week, they drew 2-2 with the Hatters at the Avenue Stadium on Tuesday night, and beat Luton, who are managed by former Torquay United manager Paul Buckle, who also played for the Magpies' great rivals Weymouth Town, it will be the first time that they would have reached the third round of the FA Cup.
