This season The FA Cup will again be touring the country, stopping at football clubs, primary schools, hospices and community centres as football fans young and old queue up to have their photos taken with the world famous trophy.

In exactly seven days, 661 clubs will embark on the long road to the 2004/05 FA Cup Final, and on Thursday, Wick FC, near Littlehampton in West Sussex was the first port of call.

In the first of a regular new series, TheFA.com fired some questions at the Manager who will be gunning for FA Cup glory this season.

Club: Wick FC
Formed  1892
League: Sussex County League Division 2
Manager: Andy Gander
Spell in Charge: Second season coming up. Last season finished fourth

First FA Cup Memory: 
Liverpool beating Newcastle United 3-0. I remember Kevin Keegan scoring a couple of goals, but then a couple of others that stick out are 1976 Final, and the 1979 final, when Alan Sunderland scored the winner

FA Cup Highlight:  
As a lifelong Brighton fan, it may seem strange, but if was Gordon Smith’s miss in the dying moments of the ’83 final. Having watched the club rise from the old Third Division to the old First and then get to an FA Cup Final, it was just an unbelievable achievement, and we all thought we were dreaming.

Had he scored and Brighton beaten Manchester United at Wembley, maybe it would have been too much, and I wouldn’t have been able to top that!

What does The FA Cup mean to Wick FC. Does the competition generate a different atmosphere around the club, even at the Extra Preliminary Round:

100% different. Every season you start thinking: What If? For a club of our size, three or four wins could really put us on the map, and for the players, it’s their one chance to maybe get recognised.

Player to Look Out for:
Danny Curd. He is a forward who scored his first goal for the club on Tuesday, and he is a product of our youth team. At this level it is vital that we produce our own players, and we now have five ‘graduates’ from our U18 team in the first team

How would you describe your management style, and who, if anyone would you model yourself on:
You’d have to ask the players, but I’m not a thrower of teacups! At this level there is a lot of juggling of tasks, not just picking the squad, and the tactics, and you have to deal with everyone in a correct manner.

Smashing cups may work once, but it will soon lose its effect. You have to handle different players according to how you think they will best respond.

I’ve always admired Terry Venables and believe that if you can man-manage your players, you’re likely to get better results.

What are your hopes for this seasons competition:
As a Manager you can start dreaming too much when the draw comes out if you’re not careful, but we’re quietly confident this season. We’ve started off with a win and a defeat in our first two league games, but there will be no lacking our commitment when we take to the pitch next Saturday.

Realistically, if we can get to the Second Qualifying Round and also earn the club some money, and well as respect and kudos, we’ll have done very well.

How important is the money available to clubs in The FA Cup:
Even at our level, £5,000 could make a huge difference to a club of our stature. Clearly the prize fund has increased for The FA Vase, which we also play in, but the rewards in The FA Cup are much greater.

Any money we make this season would be invested into the ground, and we are also exploring the possibility of developing a site behind one goal that could be used as training pitch, and also a community facility for local children.

Finally, who will win this season’ competition:
If it can’t be us or Brighton, I don’t think you can really look beyond Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United.

Wick FC kick of their 2004/05 FA Cup tie against Saltdean FC at Crabtree Park, Coomes Way, Littlehampton on Saturday 28 August. Kick-off is 3pm.