Merthyr Town continue their Emirates FA Cup campaign against Sheppey United at Penydarren Park on Saturday afternoon (3pm).

The Martyrs head into the contest full of confidence after a midweek 2-1 victory against Didcot town in the Southern League Premier South. Goals from Alex John and susbstiute Tom Hillman saw Town maiantain their unbeaten run away from home.  

OPPOSITION FOCUS | CLUB HISTORY

Sheppey United FC was formed in 1890 by a merger of Sheerness Victoria and Invicta, and initially played at the Sheppey United Cricket Club ground at Botany Road. The first match was at Sittingbourne on 20 September 1890, with Sheppey running out 3-1 winners despite turning up with only ten players. In June 2013 the club merged with Sheerness East FC to become Sheppey & Sheerness United FC competing in the Kent County League Premier Division with the club playing their home games a Holm Park formerly Canning Town Gasworks and then Sheerness Steel Sports Ground. The season saw the club win the Kent FA Intermediate Challenge Shield and finish runners up in the league and were promoted to the Kent Invicta League.

In the summer of 2014 the club was renamed back to Sheppey United FC. Major investment has been injected into Holm Park including: perimeter fencing, new dressing rooms, club house refurbishments, floodlights, stands, levelling the main pitch including installing drainage and sprinkler system. A second place finish in the Kent Invicta League was achieved at the end of the 2015/16 season gaining promotion to the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division. The Kent Invicta League merged into the Southern Counties East Football League that summer forming Division One.

2016 was a remarkable season for the club winning the Kent Senior Trophy, beating Ashford United on penalties at Maidstone United’s Gallagher Stadium in front of a crowd of 870, whilst Holm Park’s ground regeneration saw 715 fans flock to the stadium for a home match against Glebe.

A sixth-place finish in the SCEFL Premier Division was a great achievement in the clubs return to Step 5 of the Non-League pyramid.

OPPOSITION FOCUS | SEASON SO FAR

Saturdays visitors have enjoyed a promising start to the 2023/24 season, winning two of their opening three league games. Elsewhere, the club have progressed through three rounds of the Emirates FA Cup after victoies against Midhurst & Easebourne F.C, Kennington and Burgess Hill Town. Last time out, Sheppey defeated Sittingbourne 2-1 at Holy Park to progress into the Third Round Qualifying Round of the Isuzu FA Trophy.

OPPOSITION FOCUS | FA CUP JOURNEY

Extra Preliminary Round - Sheppey United 3-0 Midhurst & Easebourne F.C

First Qualifying Round - Sheppey United 3-1 Kennington

Second Qualifying Round - Sheppey United 3-0 Burgess Hill Town

FORM GUIDE

Merthyr Town - W L W D L W

Sheppey United - W L W L W W

HOW TO FOLLOW

If you’re not able to make it to Penydarren Park, you can keep up with the action by following live, play-by-play updates on our Twitter page.

BBC Radio Wales will also be providing updates of the game, via their sports programme beginning at 2pm.