Crawley Town v Chelmsford City
The FA Cup with Budweiser
Second Round Proper
3pm, Saturday 1 December 2012
Broadfield Stadium, Crawley Town FC
Winning clubs receive £27,000 from The FA's prize fund
Click here for fixtures
By Joe Brewin
Chelmsford City manager Glenn Pennyfather is no stranger to an FA Cup giant-killing.
As a player, Pennyfather was part of the Bristol City side which reached the Fifth Round Proper after knocking out Liverpool at Anfield in 1994.
It seems the 49-year-old has taken that into his managerial career, having guided his flying Conference South team to victory over League One Colchester United in the First Round this year.
But now the PE teacher faces his sternest test yet with the Clarets as he gears up his spirited underdogs for a trip to Crawley Town's Broadfield Stadium on Saturday.
Pennyfather said: "It's a disappointment we weren't drawn at home because I think every manager would want a home tie.
"But we have drawn one of the top sides in League One and we are really looking forward to it.
"We got a great win over Colchester in the last round and at that stage I don't think we really could have got a better draw. We are preparing for Saturday now and we will be ready to go.
"That game wasn't necessarily a blueprint but it was certainly a historical day for us, that's for sure.
“I am a good friend of their manager, Joe Dunne, and he was very complimentary about our team. I was incredibly proud because we fully deserved the win."
Crawley themselves have enjoyed a meteoric rise from the lower reaches of the non-League pyramid, flying from the sixth to the third tier of English football in just nine seasons.
Pennyfather believes the Sussex side are an admirable example of what can be achieved in an unforgiving non-League environment.
He added: "Crawley have enjoyed some giant-killings of their own in recent seasons.
"Maybe they are the blueprint for non-League clubs trying to make it into the Football League and beyond.
"They have taken their momentum through, so fair play to them. The FA Cup will have been big for their success, so the rewards are there as we can see.
"I am confident in my players but we are obviously under no illusions of how tough it is going to be. We will go there, do the best we possibly can and give a good account of ourselves.
"Whatever will be, will be. To perform an FA Cup giant-killing you need to be at your best and have Lady Luck alongside you too. If that recipe is there we might have a chance.
"We're just looking forward to the day for our supporters. I think we will be taking over 1,000 there, which will be brilliant.
“It will be another euphoric day for our club."
