Wootton Bassett Town v Hamworthy United
The FA Cup with Budweiser
Preliminary Round
7.45pm, Friday 24 August 2012
Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, Wootton Bassett Town FC
Winning clubs receive £1750 from The FA's prize fund
Click here for fixtures

Wootton Bassett Town manager Dave Turner knows exactly what his team will be playing for when they run out on Friday night to take on Hamworthy United in The FA Cup Preliminary Round.

The Wiltshire club is unable to pay players to turn out for the town which has played a huge role in the repatriation of British soldiers in recent years, so instead they play for pride

"We have no budget but over the summer we looked at what we had and there were three or four players that were not readily available week-in-week-out so we felt we had to bring a few more in that could play consistently," said Turner.

"Because we can’t pay, we can’t ask players to take time off work so we had to target players that we felt could take us forward and would agree to join. It wasn’t a case of offloading anyone but we needed to strengthen and we have.

"I really think that playing for free helps to bond the players and create a sense of togetherness. Money can be a double-edged sword, it can buy you better players but it cannot buy you team spirit or anything like that.

"Sometimes I do look upon those clubs that do have a few bob to spend a bit enviously, but I know that the players I have want to play for me and the football club.

"A lot of the lads here have been with me for four or five seasons, some since they were teenagers so there is a loyalty that money can’t buy and that is one of the key aspects to what we are doing here."

Given the history of the town and its links with the Armed Forces, that adds a further togetherness with the club, supporters and the town in general, so a Cup run could further that situation. 

"It has always been a close-knit town, but the work the town does with the Government and the soldiers perhaps just adds an extra element," added Turner. 

"Although I am not from Wootton Bassett I am ex-Forces so I and everyone else always appreciate what went on there and what they did.

"I think it has always been a tight community and that has just been heightened by what has gone on with the repatriations."