Welcome back to Champion Hill, where today we take a break from our Isthmian League campaign as the focus turns to one of the knockout competitions.

This time it's the start of our FA Trophy campaign. Whilst of course the magic of the FA Cup is all about seeing how far minnows, including all of the non-league clubs can progress, in the FA Trophy, two non-league clubs are guaranteed a trip to Wembley next May for the final. 

We have made no secret of our desire to deliver a marked improvement in what fans can expect of our team in the knockout competitions. It has been six years since we made the FA Cup First Round Proper and eight years since we reached an FA Trophy Quarter-Final before bowing out in a replay against eventual finalists Macclesfield Town. Since that run we have seen our peers Concord Rangers reach the 2020 final and Hornchurch go one better and lift the trophy whilst still an Isthmian Premier side one year later. So, it's about time we made our own mark on this competition once again.

Our opponents today are Hendon with whom we have plenty of recent history. Our survival last season came at the Greens' expense, with them finishing just one place below us in the final relegation spot. Then of course there was our penalty shootout play-off victory against them in 2018. Inbetween, the north Londoners got some revenge when they won on penalties in a 2022 London Senior Cup Quarter-Final.

They come into this match reinvigorated. After a difficult, winless start to the season in August, their two previous victories in this competition – against Littlehampton and Beckenham Town's – formed part of an unbeaten September. Goals have been easy to come by of late too – Hendon have racked up 19 in their last four matches! So, whilst it's good to welcome them back, don't let their mid-table Step 4 league position lull you into thinking this will be anything but a tough, competitive contest.

Our own fortunes have wavered recently with some tough results – albeit against some of the division's top sides – following our blistering August start. Mark Dacey’s team will be looking to bounce back quickly, and I’d like to thank you for your support in both good and less good times. I’d also like to remind you all that we are now at home next Saturday with the re-arranged league visit of Cray Wanderers moving from the original Tuesday 14th date to Saturday 11th October – in just seven days. Fixtures should become more static during October, but I'd still like to thank you all for your patience with the myriad changes of the past weeks... 

Ben Clasper