THACKLEY boss Pat McGuire is not thrilled about a Friday night trek up to the North East for his side's FA Vase first round qualifying tie at Durham City.

There wasn't much choice unfortunately, though there is the small comfort of getting to meet a few famous faces there.

Explaining why their game is tonight, McGuire said: "We'd already booked the coach up for Saturday, but Durham share a ground and it had been double booked.

"We offered to reverse the fixture, but in the Vase, you're not allowed, so the FA gave us the option of Friday night or Sunday.

"The problem with a Friday is we'll have to leave at 4:30, so we were worried we might have half a team if the lads couldn't leave work early, but most of them can.

"But Sunday would have meant only two days between that and our league opener with Albion.

"At least with Friday we'll now get the weekend off."

McGuire expects Durham to be a threat, even just based on their personnel off the pitch.

He said: "I've done my homework and they've got (former Newcastle defender) Olivier Bernard as chairman and (ex-Celtic star) Didier Agathe as manager, so I'd expect it to be tough.

"From what I can gather, it's quite a new team, who'll be looking to gel.

"I expect them to be exciting going forward but hopefully we'll frustrate them. Then we can see what they're like defensively and if we can expose them."

Discussing the FA Vase's importance, McGuire said: "The FA Cup and this are the two big ones at our level that you want a run in.

"To lose in the 90th minute at Runcorn (on September 1) in the FA Cup was tough and we were massively unlucky not to take it to penalties.

"So our first aim against Durham is to not let that happen again.

"It might mean having to grind it out to get a result. It's a one off game so we've got to be on it."

McGuire knows he can trust his players to do that, with his squad virtually unchanged from last season, barring the loss of Sean Hunter and Albert Ibrahimi.

He said: "We've pretty much kept the squad together, which was always the number one aim.

"There's not a lot of money knocking about for us and people will always think they can get more elsewhere rather than at Thackley.

"Sean and Albert have left, but for most of the rest of them, it's their third year together, so they know their roles and responsibilities.

"It would have been nice to add but financially it would have been a struggle. We've got a big squad anyway so you don't want to upset the apple cart either.

"Saying that, we often look to get new players in after the season starts. If there are some not getting games elsewhere and wanting a move, then we might look at bringing them in."

Elsewhere in the FA Vase this weekend, Liversedge host Handsworth, while Albion Sports and Eccleshill United are both away, to Crook Town and Holker Old Boys respectively.

Silsden host Garstang, while Steeton are at home to Jarrow. All of those games are being played tomorrow.

Campion have a bye into the second round. They will entertain Sunderland Ryhope CW on October 10.

It means that they start their NCEL Division One campaign tomorrow instead.

The Red and Blacks will be hosting Glasshoughton Welfare.

Brighouse Town are kicking off their league season too. They host Clitheroe in the Northern Premier League Division One North West.

Meanwhile, Steeton Reserves were due to play a home friendly against Route One Rovers, but that has been postponed due to Covid-19 guidelines.