In one of the most intriguing Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round ties this weekend, SCEFL league side Hollands & Blair welcome Isthmian League Ashford United to Star Meadow in Gillingham. And boss Scott Porter has been talking to KSN.
“The FA Cup is a massive occasion,” he told us. “I’ve had a good time in the FA Cup with Hythe Town getting to the First Round Proper, it really is a special thing to be involved in.
“We are really looking forward to it, especially at home with the facilities that we’ve got there now, they’re top drawer to be fair, I genuinely think it’s a free hit for us!”
“I said to someone the other day that it is as they’re a League above, it’ll be their first competitive game.”
“I know that we’ve only played one, but it is a free hit for us and we’re really looking forward to it. I’m trying to bring in a few new players before the weekend which I’m hoping that we’ll get over the line, so the squad is looking good, and the momentum is good despite us going down to Tunbridge Wells at the weekend, we took a lot of positives out of the game.”
“I don’t know if us playing a League game last week will help as they’re a good club and a good side and Kevin will have them focused on the game and their preparation will be right, I’m sure.”
“We worked hard on Tuesday to go through what went wrong at the weekend to pick the bones out of it. All that I do know is the game can’t come quick enough and we can’t wait.”
Porter was in charge at Hythe Town in 2010 when the then SCEFL side reached the First Round Proper and earned a trip to Hereford United who were then in the Football League.
“I’ve got a lot of pictures of that run around my office at home and I can still remember every single thing about it, the games up to it, the Hereford experience itself with everything that went with it with the newspaper and The Sun and Harry Redknapp phoning me up, all of those things are priceless!” Porter said remembering before admitting, “I’ve not had a good run since! But hopefully that will change starting Saturday!”
“The incentive for a Club like ours is massive! With the money and we’ve a lot of Academy boys playing for us, and it’ll be their first experience of playing in the FA Cup after watching it on TV.”
“It still is a special thing for me as an adult and grown man in management who have been involved in the game for a long time.”
“If you look when the “main” teams start their FA Cup, it’s still a long, long way away. It’s a massive competition and it really is a privilege to be involved in it wherever you are!”
“Our crowds are getting better because of the improved facilities; we’ve got a great Youth set up and we promote things really well, our crowds are getting better and we’re hoping to get some people who wouldn’t normally come along to come and see us in the FA Cup and hopefully pull off a shock!”