Boreham Wood v Brentford
The FA Cup with Budweiser
First Round Proper
3pm, Saturday 3 November 2012
Meadow Park, Boreham Wood FC
Winning clubs receive £18,000 from The FA's prize fund
Click here for fixtures
By Chris Hatherall

Brentford's Harry Forrester has played for England U16s at Wembley, has been on loan at Kilmarnock, on trial at Ajax and on the books of Aston Villa, but he admits it will be a special day when he finally makes his FA Cup debut at the age of 21 at Boreham Wood this weekend.

The Bees star, who has been hugely impressive this season and has scored four goals in a promising Brentford team managed by Uwe Rosler, is starting to fulfil the potential that tempted Villa to pay £250,000 to sign him from Watford as a wide-eyed 16-year-old.

And now he's eyeing a run in The Cup as Brentford make the short trip to north London this weekend.

He said: "It's exciting being involved in The FA Cup and if I play at Boreham Wood this will be my first time.

"It will be the same for a few other young lads in the team as well; players who have come from bigger clubs where they didn't get a chance to play in The FA Cup and have something to prove. So we're looking forward to it.

"The FA Cup is a huge competition; you watch it as a boy and dream of playing in it. I can't wait."

Forrester knows playing at Boreham Wood - currently second behind Salisbury in the Conference South - won't be easy; but having been born in Milton Keynes and also spending his early years with Watford, Meadow Park isn't exactly foreign territory.

He added: "Watford have close links with Boreham Wood and used to play their reserve games there. I remember playing there in a pre-season match, so it will be interesting to go back."

Forrester says there is one particular club he dreams of playing in the later rounds - although he refuses to reveal their identity!

But having left Aston Villa in search of regular football, he is certainly making a point in League One where he has been lauded for his skills on the ball, his ability to take on opponents and his quality at set-pieces.

"The important thing for me was to play games," he explained. "I even had a trial at Ajax after they saw me at Aston Villa; and I went there for a couple of weeks.

"They offered me a contract but I wanted first team football and I wanted to stay in England so I chose Brentford instead. I definitely think I have made the right decision. Hopefully this is going to be a special season for us."