By Matt Lawton
October 5 2005

The FA Cup returns to Hilton Park on Saturday afternoon when RMI face the challenge of Conference North rivals Gainsborough Trinity in the Third Qualifying Round of football's most famous knock-out competition. Although the first cup tie to be played in Leigh for several years, the town shares a special bond with the FA Cup, with a couple of past cup winners originating from the town, not to mention memories still fresh seven years later of RMI's famous tie with Kevin Keegan's Fulham.

The two Conference North sides met only last month when Andy Roscoe's goal wasn't enough to prevent Lincolnshire outfit Gainsborough from gaining a 2-1 victory at their Northholme ground. Ironically, that game in September kicked off earlier than normal to allow fans to watch England's World Cup qualifier against Wales later that afternoon, and it is much the same case on Saturday afternoon, with the RMI kicking off at 1pm to allow fans to also see England vital qualifier against Austria at Old Trafford, a game that kicks off at 4pm and can be watched in the Mick Martyn Bar at Hilton Park.

The last round of the competition to take place saw RMI avoid a potential banana skin when they eventually ran out comfortable 3-1 victors at Northern League side Chester-le-Street Town, while Gainsborough needed a replay to finally overcome Google, winning the second game 2-1. Both sides were also in league action last weekend when RMI fell to a hugely disappointing 1-0 home defeat to struggling Workington, while Trinity drew 1-1 at Redditch.

The game kicks off at 1pm with usual admission prices applying, get down to Hilton Park and show your support for the lads - let's cheer them in to the Fourth Qualifying Round! Come on Leythers!