The FA Trophy. For those not in the know, it’s a bit like The FA Cup for non-league teams. Granted, non-league teams can enter the FA Cup, but there is absolutely no chance they’ll get to the final. They simply don’t have the resources to compete with the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and errr… Rochdale. The Trophy allows non-league teams to live a dream of reaching Wembley Stadium.

Despite taking part in the FA Trophy every year since its formation in in the late 1960’s, Bath City’s record in the competition has been abysmal to say the least. The furthest they have ever progressed is the quarter finals, and that was only once, 25 long years ago!

Since then there has been nothing positive for The Bath Chronicle to write about the Trophy at all. In recent years, The Romans have embarrassingly stumbled out of the competition during the very early stages, on many occasions to teams from lower divisions.

On Saturday, Bath City overcame The Raider to beat his beloved Wealdstone 3-1 and reach the last 16. There is still a long way to go – 3 rounds in fact – but in the distance, I think I can make out the Wembley Stadium arch.

This most recent victory, on the back of last month’s win at Bristol Rovers, has given me and many other Bath City supporters, optimism and cause to dream of some success in the Trophy at long last.

Bath City will learn their fate and who they have been drawn against in the next round, at midday today. Whoever is picked out of the bag for Bath City will make tough opposition, but the likes of Dover Athletic and Ebbsfleet United will be exceptionally annoying – not only would they be especially hard to beat, but would make for a boring, uninspiring match. The winner of FC United of Manchester and Chorley would do very nicely!