Of all the ties in this weekend’s Emirates FA Cup Second Qualifying Round, the one at Cheriton Road has just about all the ingredients that this great competition throws up…

On the one side, is Folkestone boss Neil Cugley who has just begun his twenty-fourth season in charge at the Kent coast club and for who Saturday means the start of a FA Cup campaign as player and manager numbers into the thirties.

And on the other bench, is Chatham Town boss Scott Lindsey for whom Saturday will be his debut in the competition as a manager – a debut that pits him against a manager who he played for as a captain before standing alongside in the Folkestone dug-out as first team coach…

We’ve spoken to both – the Folkestone boss told us, “It’s one of those strange games where you’ve a team two Leagues below who are – and full credit to Chatham, they’re becoming a massive club. There is a lot of money going into that Club to make them a success – and good luck to them!”

“There were a couple of players I was interested in during the summer joined them instead of us but that’s how football is now.”

Cugley then paid compliment to the boss in the opposition dugout, “he’s a top man, he really is. He was great when he played for me and was an exceptional coach,” he said.

“To be fair, he’s gone into a club that are very, very progressive and you need that backing to move things on, and I can’t see any reason why Chatham won’t be in the same standard as us in two years! Scott really is a top man and whatever happens I’m sure that we’ll have a drink after the game!”

Meanwhile, Chatham’s six nil win at Crowborough on Tuesday maintained their one hundred percent start to the SCEFL season – a fact that wasn’t lost on the Chatham boss.

“I’m pleased with the start obviously as we’ve won every game, so you can’t do any better than that! It takes us into a really exciting game that we’re really looking forward to on Saturday.”

“When the draw was made, initially I laughed,” Lindsey admitted. “It’s ironic that you end up going to an old club – I still keep in touch with Neil and he’s a good friend of mine – we speak a lot on the phone and he’s someone who I really respect and someone that I look up to!”

“I’ve always got on with him, I played under him and my first initial reaction was that it was funny that we’ve drawn each other in the Cup.”

“You then start to think how we can beat them, what we can do; speaking to different people who know them, how they play and then work out a game plan together.”

It’s effectively the “master” against the “apprentice”!

“You could call it that – it’s a good way to put it,” Lindsey said smiling. He continued, “You’re not in any kind of football for as long as he has if you don’t know what you’re doing – his experience, his knowledge has gone a long way and will continue to I’m sure.”

“As a player, he’s somebody you want to run through a brick wall for – he is somebody you want to go above and beyond for because you really respect him! He’s somebody who was tough – he demanded a lot for you which you respected and he’s someone who you could have a beer with after the game!”

“He was a good person to be around, and I think you just wanted to go above and beyond for him. Some managers are good coaches, some managers are good man managers and I think Neil comes under the man management side of things – he’s always had decent coaches around him which he’s been very clever with as well!”

“He’s always been a real good solid man manager and a good person to play for!”

As we have already stated, Saturday sees Cugley start on another Cup campaign which as player and manager must now number in the mid-thirties and we asked him to reflect on so many memories in the Greatest Cup Competition in the World.

“Thirty odd years as a manager and quite a few as a player – there really have been some good times – it’s the best competition in the world. We went to Chester when they were a League Club – we’ve had some good ones, but I had better ones when I was at Ashford!”

Cugley reflected adding, “before I pack up, I would love to have a great run at Folkestone in the FA Cup, something that would mean something to the fans; I think it’s what the club deserves!”