⚽️ Cornwall Football: Kernow FA to face ‘toughest fixture to date’ as winner-takes-all qualifier looms
Plus: All-Cornwall affair awaits debutants Wendron United in FA Cup, while Truro City face Welling on National League South return
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⬇️ In today’s newsletter ⬇️
🌎 Kernow FA to face ‘toughest fixture to date’ as winner-takes-all qualifier looms
🏆 FA Cup draw: All-Cornwall affair awaits debutants Wendron
Trophy, Vase and Youth Cup draws
🆚 Truro City to face Welling on National League South return
Enjoy. 〓〓
🌎 Kernow FA to face ‘toughest fixture to date’ as winner-takes-all qualifier looms
By Tom Howe
Sweden-based Cornishman Kieren Conibear-Trathen warns Kernow Football Alliance face their ‘toughest fixture to date’ against FA Sápmi in next Sunday’s eagerly-anticipated CONIFA World Football Cup qualifier.
The versatile defender represented the likes of Truro City, St Austell, Wadebridge Town and Newquay before swapping Cornish shores for Scandinavia, where he has made a name for himself at various clubs from the fourth to sixth tiers in the Land of the Midnight Sun.
Between 2017 and 2019, Conibear-Trathen plied his trade in the colours of Kiruna FF and, whilst so doing, worked in a local school teaching physical education and English language to Sami students, whose ancestral roots also stretch across Norway, Finland and Russia.
Who better to ask about Kernow’s challenge on July 16, when Cornwall’s finest take on Håkan Kuorak’s Sápmi side in a winner-takes-all qualifying fixture at Falmouth Town’s Bickland Park, with the prize on offer being a spot at CONIFA’s 2024 showpiece in Kurdistan.
“I have played with many Sápmi players over the years,” Conibear-Trathen explained to Cornwall Sports Media. “They are very proud of their culture and heritage and use a lot of the same practices that they have for generations, like their language, which is still freely spoken among their community.
“Two of their squad I actually know very well. Centre-back Ake Tornberg is somebody I played alongside for five seasons. The other is a midfielder called Benjamin Zachrisson who I have played against many times and is somebody whom I also work with.
“Kernow can expect a team who will put up a fight for the World Football Cup spot on offer and I actually believe this could be their toughest fixture to date.
“I have spoken to Ake and Benjamin who have been asking about where the game will be played. I have shown them the pitch and joked with them about the daunting walk down the concrete steps of Bickland.”
Sápmi’s squad features a mix of players from across the league structures in each of Norway, Finland and Sweden, with their most recognisable representative — at least to many English readers — being Tobias Vonheim Norbye of Norway under-18s and Tromsø IL.
Conibear-Trathen himself has helped unbeaten Obbola IK to the summit of Division 4 Herr Södra (Men’s South) ahead of their traditional summer break, during which time he returned to visit family and friends back in Cornwall.
His trip narrowly missed the game though, with the 31-year-old having since returned to the place he now calls home, having laid down roots when buying a house in 2019 and taking up a full-time role as PE teacher and behaviour co-ordinator in an international English school.
“Unfortunately not,” Conibear-Trathen said when quizzed on whether he would be donning the jersey of his homeland to take on that of his adopted home. “I was only in Cornwall until July 3. If I had known earlier, I would definitely have made myself available to play.”
🏆 FA Cup draw: all-Cornwall affair awaits debutants Wendron
By Matt Friday
Wendron United will host St Blazey in their first-ever FA Cup tie in the extra preliminary round on Saturday, August 5.
Michael O’Neill’s side finished runners-up to Blazey as the Green and Blacks clinched the South West Peninsula League Premier West title last season, and Dron, on their FA Cup debut, have an early chance to exact revenge.
Three other Cornish sides will enjoy home comforts in the extra preliminary round. Falmouth Town and Helston Athletic entertain the Southern League duo of Exmouth Town and Willand Rovers respectively, while Mousehole welcome Ilfracombe Town to Trungle Parc.
Saltash United are among those on their travels with the Ashes visiting Western League colleagues Barnstaple Town, while Torpoint Athletic head to Buckland Athletic in another all-Western League affair.
The same goes for Millbrook who go to Street, while SWPL outfit Liskeard Athletic make the trip to Bridgwater United.
Newly-promoted National League South outfit Truro City, meanwhile, will enter the competition in the second qualifying round.
Seagulls away on FA Trophy debut
Newly-promoted Mousehole will make their FA Trophy debut at fellow Southern League Division 1 South West side Malvern Town in the first qualifying round on September 9.
The winners will host either Yate Town or Tavistock in the next round, with Truro City set to enter in the second round proper.
Five sides receive byes in Vase
St Austell host Bodmin Town in one of three all-Cornwall derbies in the FA Vase first qualifying round.
Dobwalls welcome St Blazey to Lantoom Park while Callington Town make the short trip to Launceston, with all ties to take place on Saturday, August 26.
Falmouth Town and Saltash United are the only other Duchy sides with home ties, with the Western League duo hosting Honiton Town and Radstock Town respectively.
Camelford, Bude Town and Liskeard Athletic all travel to SWPL Premier East sides — namely Sidmouth Town, Bishops Lydeard and Crediton United — while Wadebridge Town head to Western League Division One outfit Bishop Sutton.
Helston Athletic, Millbrook, Wendron United, Newquay and Torpoint Athletic all receive byes into the second qualifying round, with the first three of those set to enjoy home advantage.
Youth Cup draw yields Duchy derby
Helston Athletic will host St Austell in the only all-Duchy affair of the FA Youth Cup preliminary round.
Mousehole entertain Elburton Villa, while Falmouth Town receive a bye after being drawn with Torrington, who have withdrawn from the competition.
Youth Cup preliminary round ties will be played in the week commencing Monday, September 4.
🆚 Truro City to face Welling on National League South return
By Matt Friday
Truro City will begin their first National League South campaign since 2019 at home to Welling United.
Paul Wotton’s side, who ended a four-year absence from the sixth tier of English football by winning the Southern League Premier South play-offs last term, will welcome the Wings to Bolitho Park on Saturday, August 5.
The White Tigers’ first away trip of 2023/24 sees them head to Essex outfit Braintree Town the following weekend, before the comparatively shorter midweek journey to relegated Yeovil Town — a Championship side as recently as nine years ago — three days later.
Truro’s shortest journey of the season comes on Boxing Day when they head to former landlords Torquay United, with Gary Johnson’s Gulls coming to Bolitho Park for the return fixture on New Year’s Day.
The White Tigers entertain Slough Town on Good Friday (March 29) before making the trip to Chippenham Town on Easter Monday (April 1).
City’s run-in sees successive home games against fellow new boys Aveley on April 6 and relegated Maidstone United seven days later, with Wotton’s side visiting Dartford on the final day on April 20.
See you next time!
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Brilliant Update. Thanks. So pleased I’ve subscribed. Jimbo MAFC fan.