The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON 
Third Round Qualifying
Saturday 13 October 2007
Winning clubs receive £5,000
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Ian Allinson says he is more nervous about steering tiny Stotfold into the Fourth Round Qualifying of The FA Cup than he was playing for Arsenal in a League Cup semi-final against Tottenham.

Allinson famously scored in that 1987 showdown against their arch-rivals - with the Gunners going on to lift the trophy after a win against Liverpool in the Final at Wembley - but is now manager at Stotfold, who are preparing for this weekend's clash with Tonbridge Angels.

The Bedfordshire club, who play in the United Counties Premier Division, entered the competition all the way back in the Extra Preliminary Round and Allinson does not want the superb run to end - with a tantalisingly huge tie just two wins away.

"If you think about it, we are only two games away from drawing Leeds United and those are the kind of things you can dream about," he explained.

"That would be amazing as this weekend's game against Tonbridge will be the biggest ever for a lot of my players who we have brought up from Sunday park football.

"But I think I am more nervous now than I was waiting to play against Tottenham in that League Cup semi-final. I started on the bench in that game and by the time I was thrust into the action there was no real time for nerves.

"Nowadays, it is all about planning for me, but I still get a buzz which is why I do it."

Tonbridge beat Allinson's former club Boreham Wood 4-0 in a league encounter at the weekend, so the Stotfold manager will call a few favours to try to gain some valuable information.

"I will definitely be speaking to some people and getting a report sent through on them," he added.

"They are going to be a tough side as they play in the Ryman Premier League. But we are at home, which is an advantage, and it will be interesting to see how they cope coming down to our small ground."