The FA Cup provides semi-professional footballers the perfect reward for their dedication to football, according to Bootle manager Joe Doran.
Doran’s men will take a break from life in the North West Counties Premier Division as they host league rivals Runcorn Town in the Extra Preliminary Round of The FA Cup, on Saturday afternoon.
Non-league football can be impeding for managers as they look to find the best way in fielding their strongest sides around full-time working commitments, but Doran could not knock his players who give their all for The Bucks.
Bootle v Runcorn Town
The FA Cup
Extra Preliminary Round
3pm, Saturday 16 August
Delta Taxis Stadium
"It can be frustrating when there are midweek games, but I find that with all the players we deal with at this level they are very committed," Doran said.
"I’ve got lads who are delivery drivers who will go and do an eight or 12-hour shift driving, and then come straight to football and put a shift in.
"There are lads who get up at four o’clock in the morning, go to work, and then play football at quarter to eight on a Tuesday evening. It can be difficult, but I think the level of commitment of players who have full-time jobs is excellent, I can’t fault anyone.
"The FA Cup is what they all deserve, the final reward for putting that effort in and to show they can play in it. Same as the likes as Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Yaya Toure."
Saturday’s clash at the Delta Taxis Stadium isn’t just an FA Cup tie, but it will also see three ex-Runcorn players come up against their former side.
James McShane and brother Jason, as well as Emini Adegbenro have all joined Bootle this season, and it will be a particularly big occasion for James, who stands as Runcorn’s club-record scorer.
“I’ve got lads who will go and a 12-hour shift and then come straight to football and put a shift in”
Joe Doran
McShane holds plenty of records for the Cheshire club, notably his 157 goals from nearly 220 games, and although it won’t be the first time he has come up against his former teammates, Doran still believes the tie will be a big occasion for him.
"Interestingly, we signed their record goalscorer this summer, James McShane," Doran continued. "He broke their goal scoring record and has signed for us this season. It will be a massive day for him because he is playing against a team that he came through.
"We’ve added to our squad quite considerably this summer, adding about nine or 10 new players, so it will definitely be a much better game [than last season].
"They did have the better of us last year, they beat us 4-1 at their place and then we drew 2-2. I think we will give a better account of ourselves this season, but it will still be a tight game."
