Try as he might to put it to the back of his mind, Shaun Teale can't help but think about the possibility of leading his side out at Villa Park in the final of The FA Trophy, in partnership with Carlsberg.

For Teale, who enjoyed four years at Aston Villa, it would be the dream end to his first season in charge of Burscough - the Lancashire village club where he started out as a player some 20 years ago.

The player-manager of the Unibond Premier side said: "You try and put the idea to sleep until you get to that situation, but obviously it's there. We're only three games away."

The first of those three games is probably one of the biggest in the club's history - away to title-holders and Nationwide Conference leaders Yeovil Town in the quarter-finals on Saturday.

Teale is well aware of big cup games, having beaten Manchester United in the final of the Coca-Cola Cup at Wembley in 1994 with Aston Villa. Although Burscough reached the final 16 of The FA Vase in the same year, this is by far the furthest they have ever reached in The FA Trophy.

Teale, who celebrated his 39th birthday this week, said: "If we win that game, then we can start thinking we have got a great chance of getting to Villa Park."

Burscough go into the game as massive underdogs. A side who usually play in front of a home gate of around 250 expect to be running out in front of some 5,000 Yeovil fans.

But Teale is not running scared. "If you look at Yeovil's history, they are a club built on giant-killing acts in The FA Cup. There's nothing to say it's not going to bite them back coming the other way.

"We will be going there full of confidence and hoping to put a good show on for our club and for our league."

Having suffered the major disappointment of being knocked out of this season's FA Cup in the First Qualifying Round, Burscough bounced back in The FA Trophy - having only got as far as the First Round last season.

In the First and Second Rounds, they were taken to a replay by Marine and Harrogate Town respectively, and went on to beat Ilkeston Town away in the Third Round.

They were taken to a replay again in the Fourth Round by Alfreton Town, but in the Fifth Round beat their league rivals Wakefield & Emley at home at the first time of asking.

Teale said: "We have done well considering most of our games have been away from home, but this one against Yeovil is by far the biggest.

"Money-wise, this is a massive tie for us and will earn the club some much-needed revenue."

A win would pocket the club £3,000 in prize money - and a place in Monday's draw for the lucrative semi-finals.

Teale said: "There would not be a bigger scalp for us this season in non-league football. They are at the top of the Conference and are looking like going into the Football League."

Apart from being in the quarter-finals of The FA Trophy, the only thing Burscough have in common with Yeovil Town is that they play in green and white. However, it meant that Burscough had to quickly buy a new strip.

He is in no doubt as to whether the club would permanently switch from green and white to sky blue and navy should they defy the odds on Saturday.

He said: "The tradition at this club is green and that's the way we'll stay."

by Tony Incenzo