It’s arguably the biggest weekend in the history of Lydd Town Football Club as they make their first ever appearance in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup.

And for joint bosses James Rogers and Tom Wynter, Sunday’s trip to Imperial Fields, Tooting, to face Isthmian Premier side Kingstonian is undoubtedly the biggest game in their respective fledgling managerial careers. 

The pair were only appointed at the start of the month following the departure of former boss Mickey Doyle for the Club’s first ever season in the SCEFL Premier, and this early Cup run is nothing but a bonus for the Club, and Rogers has been telling KSN this week… 

“It’s obviously a big game for the Club” he said, “It’s the first time the Club’s been in the First Qualifying Round and especially when you remember what happened in the last Round against Deal – being 2-0 up before the game abandonment because of injury.”

“To back that up in such a game with the emotions and the feeling towards the first game was a big game to go and win to give us the opportunity to go to Kingstonian on Sunday.” 

Lydd had originally led the tie with Deal 2-0 when Deal keeper Henry Newcombe suffered a serious injury in the closing stages.

The game was replayed on Bank Holiday Monday with the home side this time coming out 4-2 winners.

“We didn’t really have to say much before the game.” said Rogers. “We changed our shape from the first game, and it worked and to be honest before they got their couple of goals late on, it could have been six or seven as we missed a fair few chances.”

The pair who were in charge of Hythe Town for a while a few seasons ago, but both opted away from management after leaving Reachfields. Rogers told us, “We’ve stepped back into management with Lydd and so far…” 

“I think it helps for Sunday that I was actually playing at that level with Folkestone last year, so I know what the teams are like, and I remember what Kingstonian were like last year.”

“We’ve spoken to a few people who have played them already and have had a report on them too, so we know what to expect.”

“I know a few of their players and they are good Isthmian Premier players, but we’ve got good players from that level who have dropped down!”

“We’ll go there confident – we won’t go afraid of them, we’re confident of getting a result!” 

“I know we’re going to be classed as underdogs, but we’ve got players who have played at their level before, and I know a lot of their players.”

“Yes, we’ll go and show them respect but we’ve got a “free-shot” as it is the FA Cup – the League has to be our bread and butter and that’s where you want to win games, but it’s nice to have Cup runs, and we’ll go there confident of getting a result!” 

“The Club is taking big strides at the moment with some very good people behind the scenes and they want to push the Club as far as they can push it.”

“The growth on the pitch you can see and they’re trying to match that behind the scenes as well.”

“I think eventually that they’ll get there and the plans that they’ve got for the Club are exciting – a club that is progressing and will continue to progress and that’s why we can attract the players that we’ve attracted to be honest.” 

Picture supplied by Chris Lawson.