Their FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round clash with Yorkshire Amateur has been selected by the BBC to feature as the season's Cup curtain-raiser, and will be included in Saturday's edition of Football Focus.

The FA Cup has a unique way of grabbing a place in the heart of football lovers - and even the prospect of the extra preliminary round has set tongues wagging in Norton.

The Northern League Division Two side are used to having crowds of around 50 on a usual Saturday afternoon - but the glamour of The Cup means that they will be watched by millions around the country as the BBC keep a close eye on the goalmouth action.

Norton's club secretary June Teasdale is new to her role at the club, but admits she is thrilled to be involved in the excitement.

June said: "It's fever pitch around here and everyone is very excited. The local butcher is very well known in these parts and people travel miles to buy their meat from him - and he has covered his windows in posters advertising the big match!

"The club's profile has really been raised and word of our club is spreading. When I started the job and was told about the cameras and all the rest of it I was a bit nervous - but now I'm excited."

The players are getting equally excited about the prospect of playing on television in The FA Cup - and June revealed how they are all trying to grab their moment in the spotlight.

She added: "The players are thinking of dying their hair for the game - they are all very excited about it. They keep coming up to me telling me that they are the best player or the captain and that I should tell the press.

"But we will see who the real hero is on the day. Let's just keep our fingers crossed and hope we make it through to the next round.

"We're ready for the cameras, let's just hope they're ready for us!"

The FA Cup
Extra Preliminary Round
Saturday 28 August 2004 - 3.00pm

1

Hebburn Town

v

Silsden

2

Maine Road

v

Durham City

3

Skelmersdale United

v

Brodsworth MW

4

Newcastle Blue Star

v

Liversedge

5

Winterton Rangers

v

Goole

6

Curzon Ashton

v

Morpeth Town

7

Norton & Stockton Ancients

v

Yorkshire Amateur (12.30)

8

Tadcaster Albion

v

Fleetwood Town

9

Rossington Main

v

Washington Nissan

10

Nelson

v

Chester-le-Street Town

11

St Helens Town

v

Necastle Benfield Saint

12

Peterlee Newtown

v

Colne

13

Parkgate

v

Kennek Ryhope CA

14

Holbeach United

v

Alvechurch

15

Barwell

v

Oldbury United

16

Cradley Town

v

Chasetown

17

Biddulph Victoria

v

Staveley MW (Sun 3.00)

18

Causeway United

v

Leek CSOB

19

Boldmere St Michaels

v

Norton United

20

Coalville Town

v

Daventry Town

21

Lowestoft Town

v

AFC Wallingford

22

Woodbridge Town

v

Ware

23

Concord Rangers

v

Ilford

24

Norwich United

v

Harefield United

25

North Greenford United

v

Clapton

26

Chalfont St Peter

v

Wroxham

27

Great Yarmouth Town

v

Long Melford

28

Bury Town

v

Hullbridge Sports

29

Tiptree United

v

Ruislip Manor

30

Witham Town

v

Dereham Town

31

Enfield Town

v

Leverstock Green

32

Wembley

v

Edgware Town

33

Hanwell Town

v

Hadleigh United

34

Royston Town

v

Harpenden Town

35

Bowers Pitsea

v

London Colney

36

AFC Sudbury

v

Haringey Borough

37

Ely City

v

Brook House

38

Felixstowe & Walton United

v

Leiston

39

Wisbech Town

v

Sawbridgeworth Town

40

Enfield

v

March Town United

41

Buckingham Town

v

Kingsbury Town

42

Ipswich Wanderers

v

St Neots Town

43

Haverhill Rovers

v

Needham Market

44

Potters Bar Town

v

Clacton Town

45

Newmarket Town

v

Ford Sports Daventry

46

Cove

v

Fareham Town

47

VCD Athletic

v

Godalming & Guildford (Sun 3.00)

48

Camberley Town

v

Thatcham Town

49

Lordswood

v

Winchester City

50

Chessington United

v

Chichester City United

51

Walton Casuals

v

Three Bridges

52

Hythe Town

v

Littlehampton Town

53

Wick

v

Saltdean United

54

Broadbridge Heath

v

Brockenhurst

55

Selsey

v

Merstham

56

Moneyfields

v

Redhill

57

Arundel

v

Whitstable Town

58

Greenwich Borough

v

Eastbourne United

59

Whitehawk

v

AFC Totton

60

Slade Green

v

Reading Town

61

Bishop Sutton

v

Frome Town

62

Hamworthy United

v

Liskeard Athletic

63

Willand Rovers

v

St Blazey

64

Highworth Town

v

Falmouth Town (Sun 1.00)

65

Devizes Town

v

Exmouth Town

66

Street

v

Welton Rovers

67

Bristol Manor Farm

v

Bridport

68

Bishop’s Cleeve

v

Minehead

69

Tuffley Rovers

v

Barnstaple Town

70

Portland United

v

Bridgwater Town

71

Keynsham Town

v

Saltash United

72

Downton

v

Porthleven

73

Backwell United

v

Odd Down