Southern League Premier Division South outfit Plymouth Parkway stand on the verge of club history as they prepare to host league rivals Chertsey Town in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round on Saturday. Currently positioned second in the seventh tier, the non-league side—who began playing park football back in 1988—are just 90 minutes away from booking a maiden appearance in the competition's first round proper.
Parkway manager Karl Curtis has labelled the decisive fixture at Bolitho Park as the squad's own 'FA Cup final.' To reach this stage, the team navigated tough away tests against Gosport and Frome Town—securing their first-ever victory against Frome—before claiming an upset win on home soil against National League South side Horsham in the previous round.
Victory this weekend could pave the way for a high-profile showdown with city neighbours and League One leaders Plymouth Argyle, located less than two and a half miles away at Home Park. The two teams met in a July pre-season friendly where Argyle earned a 4-1 win despite a first-half equalizer from Parkway's Will Sullivan. Parkway midfielder Rio Garside, a 25-year-old former Argyle academy player, is keen on facing his old team, while leading scorer Andrew Neal brings valuable pedigree to the tie, having previously played in the first round with Truro City against Charlton Athletic in 2017.
Beyond the local derby narrative, chairman Mark Russell underscored the transformative sporting and economic impact of progressing into Monday's draw alongside the likes of Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester City. With proposed Kuwaiti investment driving Parkway's ambition to ultimately reach the English Football League, Russell acknowledged that while Bolitho Park provides home advantage, drawing a prominent club away from home would deliver vital financial rewards and an unforgettable occasion for the squad.