We take a respite from the rigours of the League campaign as we return to cup football in the form of the Emirates FA Cup Second Qualifying Round as the Poppies visit Quorn on Saturday kick off 15:00.

Whilst Quorn suffered a devastating 1-0 96th minute away defeat at Harborough Town on Tuesday, with Goodson being sent off in the fourteenth minute, they nevertheless come into this game in good form. In the First Qualifying Round, they comprehensively defeated Sherwood Colliery 8-0. ‘The Methodists’ league form, four wins (0-1 away at Worcester, 5-2 at home to Stratford, 0-4 away at Sudbury and 2-3 away at Leiston) together with a 1-1 draw at home with Stourbridge and two losses (0-1 away at Barwell and the Harborough result) leave Quorn in fourth place in the League with thirteen points out of a possible twenty one.

Meanwhile, Kettering Town secured their place in the Second Qualifying Round with a resounding 1-4 victory away at Long Eaton and, despite our inconsistent home form in the League with two losses (Harborough 0-2 and Spalding 2-4), we remain unbeaten away this season.

In relation to previous fixtures, it is virtually a blank canvas between the two sides with just a pre-season friendly in 2015-16 played away in front of 120 as the Poppies ran out 3-2 winners with an Elliott Sandy hat-trick to mark the occasion.

Although a first team League, Kettering Reserves did play Quorn Methodists twice during the 1946-47 season in the Leicestershire Senior League, winning the home game 6-1 while losing the away fixture 3-4.  The Poppies finished in 4^th position with Quorn in 6^th place. Quorn kept their Methodist identity until 1952 when they changed their name to just Quorn.

Currently, Quorn play an expansive and attacking brand of football and with the Poppies recent positive away form it will be an entertaining match. However, it’s cup football so anything can happen.

Enjoy the game.

Played for both clubs (17)

Goalkeepers

Carl Adams, Lawrie Dudfield, Craig Attwood, Wayne Diuk, Jamie March, Scott Goodwin, Russell Hoult, Andrew Osei-Siribour, Ash Robinson, James Jepson, Kalern Thomas, Henry Eze, Ben Bradshaw, Charlie Marzano, Tyree Wilson, Devon Kelly-Evans, Declan Towers.

Managers of both clubs

Marcus Law, Richard Lavery.

Managers

Doug Keast, Lawrie Dudfield, Russell Hoult.

Assistant manager of both clubs

Paul O’Brien, Tom Cherry.

Assistant Manager

Russell Hoult

QUORN FC – THE LAST 5 SEASONS

LEAG             P          W        D         L         F          A            PTS     POS

2024-25           PINPLM          40        32        7          1          104      25            103      1^st

2023-24           PINPLM          38        19        9          10        81        54            66        5^th       

2022-23           UCLPN           38        25        7          6          96        53            82        2^nd

2021-22           UCLPN           34        11        8          15        59        62            41        13^th

2020-21*         UCLP              12        7          4          1          41        18            25        AB

* Season declared null & void.

QUORN FC

Manager                                Ryan Beswick

Ground                                   Farley Way Stadium

Nicknames                             The Methodists / Reds

Position in League                3^rd – 13pts from 7 games

Leading League scorer         4 – Zak Goodson

THE REDS SO FAR……