All eyes will be on The Stadium Of Light at lunchtime today, but when that finishes it's local derby time in the FA Cup at the Snows Stadium when AFC Totton take on local rivals Sholing in the FA Cup first qualifying round.

Last season saw the Stags of Totton got head to head with the Boatmen of Sholing in the league, Sholing looked like winning that battle for most of the season, but eventually in the final weeks of the season Totton overhauled them and won the title, rubbing it in at St Mary's Stadium with an emphatic win over their cross city rivals for a league & cup double.

It all ended happily for the Boatmen though as they won promotion through the play offs to join the Stags in the Southern League Premier Division South, just one promotion away from the National League South and only two away from joining Eastleigh in the National League, to put it either more clarity, 3 straight promotions would see either club in League Two.

They are yet to meet in League action yet where Totton sit in 5th place on 12 points, a steady start but not quite the one they aspired to, Sholing are 3 points behind in 10th.

But today the League is forgotten as they square up in the FA Cup at the Snows Stadium in Totton with local pride, not to mention the glory of the FA Cup at stake.

With the Saints game at Sunderland ending at around 2.30pm, many are expected to hot foot it over to Totton to catch the start of this game or those coming from across the Itchen, some will watch the game in a pub in Totton and then make the short drive to the Snows Stadium after.

Sholing who were formed out of VT Football Club who were the descendants of Vosper Thorneycroft FC rather than the former Sholing FC who played in that district up to the 1990's, have some Saints connections, Jake Flannigan played for Saints back in the OO's and made the bench on a few occasions in the Premier League and is currently featured in the TV programme Boot Dreams Now or Never.

But perhaps the biggest ex Saint in the side is Jake Hesketh, he made his debiut in the Premier League for Saints against Manchester United at St Mary's under Ronald Koeman as a sub with 20 minutes left, the following week he started against Burnley and looked the part until a 32nd minute injury saw him having to go off.

Injury hampered him but he was on the fringes of the first team for several seasons and he signed a 4 1/2 year deal in 2016 such was Saints admiration of him.

He also started against Hapoel Beer Sheva in Israel in the Europa League in 2016/17 coming off for Dusan Tadic, but this would be his last first team action and he would leave for Burton Albion the first of many loan moves before joining, eventually departing from Saints only two years ago to join Eastleigh before joining Sholing this summer.

A big game is in store this afternoon, for clubs at this level the chance of a run in the FA Cup brings not only the chance of glory and reaching the first round and playing a League club as Totton did when they hosted Bristol Rovers in 2011/12 season, but also financial rewards both through prize money in each round but gate receipts.

Tickets can be bought in advance via AFC Totton or are available on the gate.

The Snows Stadium is a modern football ground with terracing on all four sides as well as a covered stand on each side, with two bars and refreshments available it is a true football experience.

The Snows Stadium is situated on Salisbury Road in Totton just by the Calmore Roundabout, free car parking is available on the Calmore industrial Estate just a two minute walk from the ground .

The Snows Stadium
Salisbury Road
Totton
Southampton
SO40 2RW

Photo: Action Images

livsgrandad added 15:01 - Sep 2 cant wait to hear russells explanation on this one...........what a shower of ____. what was he thinking starting with todays starting 11????????? the worst display ive seen for a long time... its alright keeping the ball,but to what cost????? if we have the best striker in the world :what good would he be if we dont get the ball to him{except from corners}....we cannot deal with the long ball over the top.....we are leaking goals and we always will whilst playing that far forward......we cannot defend for toffees..we need to get back to basics and sort out a flat back 4 that know how to work together as a solid unit.....sort that out and with the outfield players we have in our squad; the rest will take care of itself...edoziie is a talented lad,but too lightweight defensively ,he should be brought on when the hard works been done as well as mara...While were playing russells possession football ,we can forget about instant promotion back to the premier, more like worry we dont get relegated.......im sorry to be so negative but from what ive just watched i am totally shocked and despondent..... Sort it out' and quickly boys...

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