BBC announce the FA Cup Preliminary Round match they will televise

It’s that time of year again, the BBC announce the FA Cup Preliminary Round match they will televise, and it should be a cracker.

The early rounds of the FA Cup qualifiers have been streamed on the BBC since 2017, which has not only put non league clubs on the map, but also earned them a welcome financial boost for being on the telly.

A game from every stage is be live-streamed across BBC Sport’s digital platforms, allowing audiences to watch the game live on PC, mobile or connected TV. Matches will also be available live and on-demand on BBC iPlayer.

BBC SPORT STATEMENT:

The BBC will show the game between Marlow and Thame United in the FA Cup preliminary round.

The game at the Alfred Davis Memorial Ground on Saturday, 20 August at 12:30 BST will be broadcast live on the BBC Red Button, Sport website and iPlayer.

No club has entered more times than Marlow, who were one of the original entrants in 1871.

Thame, of the Southern League Division One Central, are one of Oxfordshire’s oldest clubs.

Marlow play in the Isthmian League South Central Division.

Steve Rudge, BBC Sport’s head of football, said: “We are delighted that audiences will be able to share in the passion of the FA Cup from the opening stage of the competition. To highlight the tournament from first kick to last will showcase the desire for success in the famous Cup throughout the football pyramid.”

David Newton, the FA’s head of competitions, said: “The Emirates FA Cup is the world’s most loved domestic cup competition.

“We’re delighted that the BBC is widening the competition’s reach by allowing fans the opportunity to follow the drama live, right from the very start through to the showpiece final at Wembley Stadium.”

FA CUP QUALIFYING GAMES PREVIOUSLY TELEVISED:

2017/18
Extra Preliminary Round – Litherland REMYCA (10) vs AFC Liverpool (9) (BBC)
Preliminary Round – South Shields (8) vs Bridlington Town (9) (BBC)
First Qualifying Round – Billericay Town (7) vs Didcot Town (8) (BBC)
Second Qualifying Round – Deeping Rangers (9) vs Kidderminster Harriers (6) (BBC)
Third Qualifying Round – Ashton Athletic (9) vs Chorley (6) (BBC)
Fourth Qualifying Round – St Albans City (6) vs Boreham Wood (5) (BBC)

2018/19
Extra Preliminary Round – Haverhill Rovers (9) vs Haverhill Borough (10) (BBC)
Preliminary Round – Prestwich Heys (10) vs Radcliffe (8) (BBC)
First Qualifying Round – Maltby Main (9) vs Frickley Athletic (8) (BBC)
Second Qualifying Round – Lymington Town (9) vs Torquay United (6) (BBC)
Third Qualifying Round – Peterborough Sports (8) vs Chorley (6) (BBC)
Fourth Qualifying Round – Dunston UTS (9) vs Gateshead (5) (BBC)

2019/20
Extra Preliminary Round – Punjab United vs Broadbridge Heath (BBC)
Preliminary Round – Heather St John’s vs Worcester City (BBC)
First Qualifying Round – Thatcham Town vs Salisbury (BBC)
Second Qualifying Round – Irlam vs York City (BBC)
Third Qualifying Round – Halesowen Town vs Altrincham (BBC)
Fourth Qualifying Round – Potters Bar Town vs Barnet (BBC) and York City vs Stockport County (BT Sport)

2020/21
Extra preliminary round – Maine Road v Squires Gate (BBC Sport)
Preliminary pound – Stocksbridge Park Steels v Stalybridge Celtic (BBC Sport)
First qualifying round – Hashtag United v Soham Town Rangers (BBC Sport)
Second qualifying round – Warrington Rylands v York City (BBC), Hashtag United vs Braintree Town (Twitch)
Third qualifying round – Christchurch v Dulwich Hamlet (BBC Sport)
Fourth qualifying round – Ilkeston Town v Hartlepool United (BBC), Bishop’s Stortford v St Albans City (BT Sport)

2021/22
Preliminary round – Sheffield v Sherwood Colliery (BBC Sport)
First qualifying round – Lichfield City v Nuneaton Borough (BBC Sport)
Second qualifying round – Sutton Common Rovers v Jersey Bulls (BBC Sport)
Third qualifying round – Hanley Town v Brackley Town (BBC Sport)
Fourth qualifying round – Bromsgrove Sporting v Grimsby Town (BBC Sport)

Fans reacted as the BBC announce the upcoming FA Cup Preliminary Round match they will televise…

@meglet1995: 👏👏👏👏👏👏🔴⚫️

@bradleywilson9: That’s quality. Enjoy it mate @markusbartley

@RyanRay74: The only club to have played in every FA cup since it’s inception, also Marlow FC provided @England 1st ever captain in their 1st international v Scotland

@Kizzyetrance: Brilliant news 👍🏻

@Scotracing: One my regular haunts back in the day #ProperFootballGround I’ll be sure to watch that one.

@JamesHassett84: Shame, @stotfoldfc knock out the Vase holders and draw Greys Athletic but good luck to Marlow/Thame #nonleaguefamily

@SurreySteve3: A lovely old skool ⚽️ ground is Marlow FC 👌

@RussWWFC: Not a bad game that, Kimberley Miners Welfare for me that day

@Mcossalifrancis: Worcestershire derby between two Step 5 sides would have been better I reckon. Malvern Town vs Worcester Raiders in front of a packed out HDAnwhere Community Stadium sounds better to me.

@anthonytmufc: If Tooting ever got shown on this all we’d do is moan about the kick off time

@FACupFactfile: It may well be a good game, but why ignore Step 5 or Step 6 clubs at this early stage of the #FACup … and there’s no possibility of a #Cupset in this all Step 4 match, which is what the competition is all about. #BBCFACup

@tmooresy25: I’m sure the marlow manager will have something to moan about still