Non-League Chairman Prioritizes Granddaughter’s Santa Visit Over Key FA Cup Match

The chairman of a non-league football club is set to miss an important FA Cup match due to accompanying his granddaughter on a visit to Santa Claus. Francis Oliver, the head of Brackley Town, will be absent from his team’s game on Saturday as he will be with his family. The Northamptonshire-based club is scheduled to face Stockport County in the second round of the globe’s oldest football tournament, a fixture that offers them the chance to advance to the third round for the inaugural time in the club’s existence. Mr Oliver stated: “[Saturday] is the only day [his family] could do. I shall be thinking from Brackley from afar and checking the score.” Brackley Town, known as “The Saints,” secured their spot in the competition’s second round by defeating Braintree Town 5-4 in a penalty shootout. The club is assured of receiving £25,000 from the upcoming game, an amount Mr Oliver characterized as a “godsend.” Their opponents, Stockport, required extra-time to overcome Forest Green Rovers in the initial round. Mr Oliver, a former goalkeeper for Brackley during the 1970s, further remarked: “We’ve got a chance. If we get to the third round, [everything else] would have to wait!” Supporters available for the match are preparing for the event. Will Grasshoff is undertaking the 140-mile journey to Greater Manchester to witness the game and expressed that he was “very nervous but excited.” He commented: “To be honest we couldn’t have got a much tougher draw. Hopefully they will underestimate us but it will be very, very hard.” The match is scheduled to commence at Edgeley Park at 15:00 GMT on Saturday. BBC Radio Northampton will provide updates on its Sport broadcast starting at 14:00, which will also include commentary on the Northampton Saints versus Gloucester game. Access Northamptonshire news via BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external links is available.