When one of the biggest games of his career was moved to a Sunday, Jon Challinor’s first thoughts were on delivering the mail rather than delivering Stamford to Emirates FA Cup glory.
“I’m a postman and I’ll be doing my round on Saturday morning before meeting everyone at one o’clock in the afternoon to go up to Hartlepool on the coach,” said Challinor.
“I want to keep it as normal as possible but I don’t do Saturdays, usually, as I’m playing football most of the time. I wanted to help them out, it’s give or take and they know I’ve got a big week ahead.”
Hartlepool United v Stamford
The Emirates FA Cup
First Round
2pm, Sunday 6 November 2016
Northern Gas and Power Stadium
Coupled with a first-round tie at League Two’s Hartlepool 24 hours later it is certainly a shake-up to his normal weekend routine – but this is by no means Challinor’s first game under the media glare.
The defender’s CV is embroidered with four Wembley appearances, including two successes on the hallowed turf in the same year – the National League play-off final and Buildbase FA Trophy – in 2012 while at York City.
Now the 35-year-old’s career has come full circle at Stamford, who sit four rungs below Hartlepool in the Northern Premier League Division One South and are looking to emulate Blyth Spartans’ shock FA Cup victory in the north-east two years ago.
The Daniels have already pulled off a major upset by dispatching National League Wrexham after a replay in fourth round qualifying and should they go one further at the Northern Gas and Power Stadium, Challinor admits it could well be his finest achievement yet.
“The lads won’t be used to occasions like this, we’ll be training in facilities that Middlesbrough use when we get up there,” said Challinor, who served as interim manager for a spell last year.
“The whole experience is to be enjoyed and I’ll tell them that. But as the oldest one there I’m not sure if the younger guys will be willing to listen to me!
“Stamford gave me the start into men’s football and to come back 13 years later, having built the new stadium they had talked about back then, was something very special to me.
“We’ve got a lot of people who work and live in Stamford in our post office – when I walked into work this week, an interview I gave after the Wrexham game was pinned up on the wall. It only hits you then how many people are behind you and the team.”
FA Cup history
This is Stamford’s best-ever run in the competition though they do have plenty of history in knockout football as winners of the FA Vase in 1980.
Hartlepool have never progressed past the fourth round but came close in 2005 before losing to Brentford in a replay.
Did you know?
Challinor credits Gary Mills with giving him a new lease of life at York City and he was all set to reunite with his former boss in the previous round – only for him to get sacked by Wrexham in the build-up.
“I text him at about one o’clock in the morning on the way back saying ‘that one’s for you’, and though it wouldn’t have made him feel better, I wanted to show my support," Challinor said. "It’s great he’s back with York now.”
One to watch
According to Challinor, Stamford are well set both up front and at the back after singling out Jevani Brown and Chris Salt for praise.
“Against Wrexham away, Jev showed he was someone who always plays on the half-turn, creating opportunities and looking to go forward. If he keeps playing well, he could go anywhere,” added Challinor.
“Chris Salt is so impressive in defence for a 22-year-old. He was our rock at Wrexham, getting first to every ball and blocking everything in sight.
“You could see what it meant to him when Wrexham came back to force extra-time, he was devastated. To see that in someone so young is very rare in the game nowadays.”
The prize
Should Stamford beat Hartlepool, they will receive £18,000 – and could then dare to dream about meeting a Premier League club with one more victory.
