Uxbridge v Wembley FC
The FA Cup with Budweiser
Preliminary Round
2.30pm, Sunday 26 August 2012
Honeycroft, Uxbridge FC
Winning clubs receive £1750 from The FA's prize fund
Live on ESPN
Click here for fixtures
By Wally Downes
Uxbridge FC manager Tony Choules has seen FA Cup fever grip his squad this week, with the prospect of being live on ESPN on Sunday affecting his defence and attack in very different ways.
In the Southern Division One Central League clash on Tuesday night against Thatcham Town, Choules’ men were struck down by nerves but they hit back to set themselves up for the visit of star-studded Wembley FC.
Wembley, sponsored by Budweiser, have signed Graeme Le Saux, Ray Parlour and Claudio Caniggia as well as a number of other veteran stars and will pose a tough test for Uxbridge at the weekend, something that Choules is more than aware of.
"We won 5-4 on Tuesday and we did it the hard way," admitted Choules. "We were 4-2 down at one point and I had to remind the lads to concentrate on the game in hand.
"I think it was a classic example of players being careful about what they do and they how they go about things before a big game - I reminded them at half time what their job was and we came away with the win.
"We are going into the game on Sunday with our forwards scoring, so attacking-wise I am quite confident.
"It is a frightening ordeal to be honest because the Wembley guys have been at the top of their game and, although the legs might not be as quick as they were, their minds will still be as sharp as ever.
"I think it is a daunting task but it is one that we are going to take on and give a right good go."
With the match televised to a national audience too, this is exposure that everyone involved at the club aren't particularly used to but Choules hopes that it will be embraced.
"ESPN have already been down and put two gantries up and I am being told there will be at least ten cameras on the game so I think that what might be what made their heads run away from them on Tuesday night," he explained.
"We are training on Thursday night when we will work on a few things and we have had Wembley FC watched twice. We have two plans and as soon as we see the teamsheet, we will know how we are going to go about it."
