Blyth Spartans boss Nash relishes FA Cup reunion with old club Newcastle Blue Star

Blyth Spartans manager Marc Nash will come face to face with his former club when Northern League side Newcastle Blue Star travel to Croft Park in the FA Cup extra preliminary round next month.

The pairing was confirmed in Friday’s draw, and according to The Non-League Football Paper, Nash felt an air of inevitability about it given his history of facing former employers at this stage of the competition.

A familiar pattern for Nash

During his time in charge of Newcastle Blue Star, Nash was twice drawn against another of his old clubs, North Shields, at the same stage of the FA Cup in consecutive seasons. This time, rather than travelling to face a former club, he will welcome Blue Star to Blyth’s Croft Park.

The FA Cup holds fond memories for Nash and his assistant, Anthony Woodhouse, from their spell at Blue Star, having guided the Tyneside club to the second qualifying round last season. A hard-fought win over North Shields opened the door to shock victories against Northern Premier League East Division sides Newton Aycliffe and Heaton Stannington, before National League North outfit Marine ended their run with a two-nil win at the KD Stadium.

Nash looking forward to the tie

Now focused on life with Blyth Spartans following what has been described as a positive summer of recruitment, Nash is hoping to add to his happy FA Cup memories, starting with this reunion with his old side.

Speaking to The Non-League Football Paper, Nash said: “I didn’t expect that again. I left North Shields and when I went to Blue Star we got North Shields two years in a row in this round – and this round, again, has thrown up another one. I’m not sure what I’ve done really.

“The tie does stand out when you look at the names of the club. At Blue Star, we had two good cup runs, especially last year where we played Marine after knocking out Heaton Stannington. Blyth Spartans are synonymous with the FA Cup so it looks like a standout tie even before you consider the ties between the two clubs.

“I enjoyed my time at Blue Star and it’s going to be something to look forward to, without a doubt.”

Spartans’ cup pedigree

Blyth Spartans remain one of English non-league football’s best-known names in FA Cup folklore, and Nash is eager to write another chapter with his current side before turning attention to the wider extra preliminary round fixture list next month.