Spartans reward for their FA Cup Second Round giantkilling against Hartlepool United is a Third Round home tie against SkyBet Championship side Birmingham City.
Monday night’s draw paired Tom Wade’s side with the Blues in a tie that will take place at Croft Park on the weekend of Saturday 3rd January.
This will be the first time that Spartans have faced City in their history and links between the two clubs are few and far between – not to mention some tenuous -to say the least.
Spartans first ever manager Ernie Hoffman resigned from the club in 1937 to become “Chief Representative” at City, which is the equivalent of a modern day scout. At the same time Spartans striker Dave Mason swapped Croft Park for St Andrews.
Current Blues striker Lee Novak was once a target for Spartans under the management of Harry Dunn in 2008 before he signed for Gateshead and Fulham’s former Spartans juniors player Dan Burn had a loan spell at St Andrews last season.
One time Spartans assistant manager John Cornforth and former centre back Chris Swailes both had loan spells at the Midlands club, although the latter never made a first team appearance for them.
The Blues recently had a changed of manager with former Newcastle United midfielder Lee Clark shown the door in October. His replacement was Burton Albion boss Gary Rowett, someone familiar to City fans after he had a two year spell with the club between 1998 and 2000.
They have twice finished runners up in the FA Cup in 1931 and 1956. On those occasions they lost at Wembley to West Bromwich Albion and Manchester City respectively.
City currently sit in nineteenth place in the SkyBet Championship, three places and four points above the relegation zone. Their last fixture saw them beaten at bottom club Blackpool on Saturday.
Before their trip to Croft Park the Blues have home fixtures with Reading and Derby County and face away games at Huddersfield Town and Nottingham Forest.
Spartans manager Tom Wade was delighted with the draw saying “It’s a great draw against a big club and we are at home. Like we were at Hartlepool United we have a chance if we are all together as one and we know we are strong at home. Let’s get Croft Park rocking again and as a club we will give it all we have”
Ticket details and a confirmed date will be released by the club as soon as possible.