The Berkshire Robins take a rest from chasing a play-off place when they welcome Vanarama National League side Altrincham to The SB Stadium for a Fifth Round Isuzu FA Trophy tie.
The Cheshire Robins, currently 14th in the National League, are one of the most well-known non-League clubs in the country, famed for their FA Cup runs.
And they head south a week after featuring in a live BT Sport match against high-riding Wrexham which saw Altrincham have the biggest league attendance at The J.Davidson Stadium since 1968 – 4,865.
However, despite the late 2-1 defeat, there were plenty of positives for Altrincham manager Phil Parkinson to take.
As the busy schedule continues, our attention now turns to FA Trophy action for what promises to be a tough test against a side who have won 10 of their last 12 games in all competitions.
Bracknell head into the game off the back of a 2-1 victory over Tiverton Town in the league on Tuesday night.
So far, it's been a successful campaign for the Berkshire side, who qualified for the First Round of the Emirates FA Cup for just the second time in the club's history, before losing 3-0 at home to Ipswich Town.
And all this just a season after winning promotion from the Isthmian League South Central Division as runaway champions and then being switched to the Southern League by the FA in the summer.
To reach this stage of the Trophy, Bracknell, who had to get over losing highly successful manager Bobby Wilkinson to Weymouth in September, replacing him with Jamie McClurg and Carl Withers, beat Isthmian Premier side Canvey Island 4-1 in the Third Qualifying Round, struggling league rivals North Leigh 3-2 in the First Round, National League South side Tonbridge Angels 4-2 away from home, Angels` league rivals Eastbourne Borough 2-1 – also away – and then yet another National League South outfit, Bath City, 1-0 at home in round four.
As with all National League clubs, Altrincham’s Trophy run didn’t start until the Third Round where they beat National League North side Curzon Ashton 1-0 at home.
It was a tough one in the Fourth Round though as last season’s Trophy runners-up Wrexham travelled to the J.Davidson Stadium.
But after a 2-2 draw, it was Alty who went through 4-3 on penalties.
Saturday's game - the first meeting between the two sides – sees an Altrincham side defend a proud record in the Trophy.
They competed in the very first season of the competition, 1969/70, and in 1974/75 were involved in an amazing Second Qualifying Round tie with Cheshire neighbours Runcorn which went to three replays before Alty triumphed 2-0.
In 1976/77, the Robins reached the semi-final where once again, it took four games to settle the outcome against Scarborough, who finally got through 2-1 at Rotherham.
The next year, however, Altrincham did manage to reach the Twin Towers where they beat Leatherhead 3-1.
Season 1981/82 saw Alty fans making the trip to Wembley again but this time they were beaten by fellow Alliance Premier rivals Enfield 1-0.
It was back to the home of English football for Altrincham again in 1985/86 and this time they took the trophy home after edging out old rivals Runcorn 1-0.
Since then they have reached three quarter finals and one semi-final but in more recent times, Trophy success has been few and far between.
As for Bracknell, they first entered the competition in 1986/87 but after three campaigns in which the furthest they achieved was a Second Qualifying Round defeat at home by Basingstoke Town, they were forced to play in the FA Vase until 2002/03 when the FA re-jigged things.
A Second Round defeat at home by National League South side Havant & Waterlooville in 2020/21 was the best the Robins could do until this season.
The other Fifth Round ties…
Aldershot Town v Dorking Wanderers
Banbury United v Gateshead
Eastleigh v Maidstone United
Hungerford Town v Farsley Celtic
Maidenhead United v FC Halifax Town
Southend United v York City
Torquay United v Barnet
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