Romford will enter unfamiliar territory when they face BetVictor Isthmian League South East side Whitehawk in the Buildbase FA Trophy Preliminary Round tomorrow, as the two clubs have not previously met in any competition. As well as a place in the First Qualifying Round, the winners will receive £2,250 from the competition prize fund, while there is the consolation of an award of £750 for the losers.

Whitehawk were formed in 1945 as Whitehawk & Manor Farm Old Boys, and started life in the Brighton, Hove and District League, changing their name to Whitehawk FC in 1961. The club were members of the Sussex County League from 1952 until 2010 when they won promotion to the Isthmian League. Two more promotions followed in quick succession, with the club reaching Conference South in 2014, but in 2018 they were relegated to the Isthmian League Premier Division. A second consecutive relegation followed and the club currently occupy ninth spot in the BetVictor Isthmian League South East with three wins and two draws from their opening eight league games. Last Saturday they were beaten 2-1 at Faversham Town.

Whitehawk play at The Enclosed Ground, which for sponsorship purposes, is known as the TerraPura Ground, and has a capacity of just over 3,000 which is unlikely to be tested tomorrow. Whitehawk's average attendance this season is 266 with their best being 350 against Saltdean United in the FA Cup. Spectator accommodation consists of two covered seated stands, one uncovered seated stand and a grass bank along the east touchline. The pitch apparently has a pronounced slope running from South to North.

Admission prices on Saturday, which is Non-League Day, are £10 for adults, concessions £5, with under-10's free.

For Boro supporters interested in making the trip to Brighton for this fixture, there is a coach leaving PlayFootball on the Eastern Avenue in Romford at 11 o'clock, with a pick up at the Holiday Inn, Brentwood fifteen minutes later. Fares are £12 for club members, £15 for non-members.

For those of you travelling independently, The Enclosed Ground is at East Brighton Park, Wilson Avenue, Brighton, East Sussex. If you know Brighton, this is north of Brighton Marina, from where it is about a mile and a half.

The nearest railway station is Brighton, which is approximately three miles away, so a good hour's walk. There are buses that run from the station to East Brighton, but will still leave you with a fifteen-minute walk to the ground from the nearest bus stop.

For anyone driving to Whitehawk, the Post Code for your Sat Navs is BN2 5TS, and the journey time from Romford should be 90 minutes or so, although this is rather dependent on how the M25, M23 and Dartford Crossing behave!