By Matt Lawton
October 14 2003

The FA Cup is without doubt the greatest knock-out competition in world football and has also provided some of the greatest moments in the short history of Leigh Railway Mechanics Institute Football Club. RMI famously took the lead at Craven Cottage, home of now-Premier League side Fulham, in a 1-1 draw with the star studded Cottagers in the 1998/99 FA Cup. Leigh lost the replay 2-0 in front of a Hilton Park record football crowd of more than 7,000, not to mention being screened live on Sky TV but Cup fever truly grabbed the imagination of both the town and club.

RMI were again drawn away in London two years later, going down 3-0 in front of a big crowd at Millwall.

The Railwaymen will be hoping that their perilous finances will be boosted by an FA Cup run, or at least an appearance in the First Round Proper of the competition.

In the draw for the Fourth Qualifying Round, which took place today, RMI were drawn away to Lancashire rivals Accrington Stanley. The game will be played at Stanley's Crown Ground on Saturday 25th October.