ESPN kicks off FA Coverage
ESPN in November will launch its live coverage of the FA Cup First Round with two games , Cambridge City v Milton Keynes Dons and Plymouth Argyle v Dorchester Town.
Simon Potter, senior director, programming, ESPN, said: “We’re excited to bring fans some great fixtures from the First Round of the FA Cup. This is the true grassroots of football in England – both games have great potential for an upset and the stakes are high with bigger clubs waiting in the next round. It’s set to be the start of another great year of the FA Cup on ESPN.”
The action starts on Friday 2nd November with Cambridge City v Milton Keynes Dons at 7pm, and is followed on Sunday 4th November by Plymouth Argyle v Dorchester Town at 4pm.
ESPN will bring viewers the opening game of the first round as Southern League Premier Division side Cambridge City welcome League One outfit Milton Keynes Dons. Their opponents Cambridge City will be hoping for a repeat of the 2004-05 season, which saw them reach the second round, where coincidentally, they were knocked out by MK Dons.
Sunday afternoon brings Dorchester Town v Plymouth Argyle in a clash between two West Country neighbours. Conference South side Dorchester boast an impressive home record – five wins out of five – that they will hope will count in their favour as League Two Plymouth come to the Avenue Stadium. Plymouth narrowly avoided relegation out of the Football League last season, following a period in administration, but have recently hit a run of good form – their three wins in a row have included a 4-1 demolition of Edgar Davids’ Barnet. They will look to the 1983-84 season for inspiration, when they reached the FA Cup Semi-Final, while they went as far as the Sixth Round in 2006-07.
ESPN will broadcast 25 live and exclusive FA Cup matches this season, from the First Round through to the Final, ensuring fans won’t miss any of the competition’s unique drama and storylines. As well as selected replays through the tournament, the sports media company will televise two matches in the first two rounds, three matches from the third to fifth rounds, two quarter-finals, one semi-final and the FA Cup Final.
FA Cup Live – First Round – Cambridge City v Milton Keynes Dons 7pm November 2nd
FA Cup Live – First Round – Dorchester Town v Plymouth Argyle 4pm November 4th
