Knights set to make even more history

After 60 years as a football club, Pinchbeck United will play their first ever FA Cup tie next month against Rothwell Corinthians.

The Knights’ trip to the fellow United Counties League Premier Division side Rothwell Corinthians in the Extra Preliminary Round on Saturday, August 11 marks another step in the rise of the club.

The winner of the tie will take on Southern League Division One East side Barton Rovers in the Preliminary Round on August 25.

“It’s fantastic to be in the FA Cup for the club,” said manager Ian Dunn.

“With how far we’ve come it will be a massive thing and it will be a big day for us.

“We would’ve liked to have been at home but it is a winnable game.

“On their day Rothwell are a decent side who can beat anyone so it’s important we do our home work.”

Elsewhere, if Holbeach beat Deeping Rangers in the Extra Preliminary they will host the remnants of former Football League side AFC Rushden and Diamonds in the next round.

Spalding United will enter the competition that day and will play either Biggleswade United or Wellingborough Town.

Pinchbeck have also been drawn away in the FA Vase.

They will take on either Woodbridge Town or Eynesbury Rovers on Saturday, September 15.

Further afield Spalding United will enter the FA Trophy at the preliminary round stage with a home game against fellow Evo-Stik Division One East side Carlton Town.

The Knights began their pre-season campaign in emphatic fashion with an 8-0 win over Peterborough and District Premier League side Thorney FC on Monday night.

Ollie Maltby celebrated becoming a dad by netting four. New signings Jordan Nuttell and Fraser Bayliss are also off the mark, Nuttel scoring two and Ash Murrell completing the scoring.

Though there’s a lot of hard work to go, Dunn is delighted with his charges so far.

“We really hit the ground running,” he said. “When they all came back you could see that the boys had been training beforehand right from the first sessions.

“Training has been easy for us as a management team as everyone has been willing to put the effort in.

“We’ve been doing short but intense sessions with footballs at their feet and that’s paying.

“There’s still a lot of hard work for us to do before that first game though.

“It was fantastic to watch last night. Anyone who came to see us was treated to a fantastic game.

“The big thing for me is that there is still more to come.

“We’ve players to come back and may be just one more signing away from being a real force.

“We can’t get carried away though. We’ve got a while to go but the early signs are good.”