Plymouth Parkway Eyes Historic FA Cup Matchup Against Argyle

When you think of football in Plymouth, the name Argyle often springs to mind. The League One leaders, with a rich history spanning 140 years, have long held a prominent place in the English game. But this weekend, the spotlight might shift to Plymouth Parkway if they can book their spot in the FA Cup first round for the very first time. Just one match stands between the seventh-tier club and a chance to face their more illustrious neighbors in the next stage of the competition. Parkway, who play in the Southern League Premier Division South, are gearing up for a significant challenge as they prepare to take on Chertsey Town in the fourth qualifying round. A win would mean they could share the draw with high-profile teams like Leicester City and Sheffield Wednesday, and of course, their nearby rivals, Plymouth Argyle. "It's massive," said Parkway chairman Mark Russell, who has seen the club grow from park football beginnings in 1988 to their current spot as second in the seventh tier. He added, "Being in the draw with clubs of that stature presents a fantastic opportunity for us." The thrill of potentially facing Argyle is palpable among the Parkway players. Midfielder Rio Garside, who has roots in Argyle’s academy, expressed his desire to meet his former club, saying, "Ideally, it would be Plymouth Argyle. Playing at their ground would be amazing, but I’d also love to host them here." Parkway's leading scorer, Andrew Neal, holds fond memories of the FA Cup. Known as 'Rocky', he helped Truro City reach the first round in 2017, where they faced Charlton Athletic. Now, with 10 goals in 11 league games this season, he’s eager to make his FA Cup mark with Parkway. "These are the moments you'll cherish for a lifetime," Neal shared. "I still talk about my time against Charlton, even if I only played for 10 minutes. If we can get through Saturday and land a big draw, it would be a highlight of my career." Manager Karl Curtis, a Tottenham Hotspur supporter, understands the magic of the FA Cup. His team has navigated some tough away matches to get to this point, recently beating National League South side Horsham to reach the fourth qualifying round. "We've had to fight hard, winning away at Gosport and Frome Town, which is no easy task," Curtis stated. "Now we face Chertsey, and it's as big a challenge as any we've faced. This is our FA Cup final." If Parkway succeeds and finds themselves in Monday’s first-round draw alongside Argyle, there's a debate on where the match should take place. Chairman Russell noted, "From a player’s perspective, you'd want it here at our ground, but financially, playing at Argyle would be advantageous for the club. It’s a double-edged sword, really." The excitement is building for Parkway as they look to make history. If they can navigate the upcoming challenge, the prospect of facing Argyle could be just around the corner.