15 years after reaching the Emirates FA Cup first round as a player with Lancaster City, Phil Brown is now hoping to repeat the feat as manager of the club.
Brown was part of the Dolly Blues team that took Altrincham to a replay in 2001-02 after a 1-1 draw and returned to the club in October 2015 as manager.
Lancaster City v Kidderminster Harriers
The Emirates FA Cup
Third Round Qualifying
3pm, Saturday 1 October 2016
Giant Axe Stadium
The Evo-Stik First Division North side are two games away from the first round after beating National League Darlington in second round qualifying to set up the visit from Kidderminster Harriers.
And the experienced manager trusts his players can seize their big chance.
“I can tell the lads how good it is to get through to the first round as a semi-professional player but they are all individual, so I am not to sure it will help that much,” said Brown.
“It’s down to each player to grasp the opportunity.
“The club has had a few games in the FA Cup first round. I have experienced it and it was brilliant, it definitely gave everyone a lift.
“It was a really good experience and something I look back on with fond memories. Hopefully the team can get there.
“Subsequently there have been other times where they have got through to the first round so it can be done.”
FA Cup history
Lancaster City have often reached the first round, but their best-ever run in the competition came in 1972-73 where they made it through to a second-round meeting with Notts County.
Kidderminster Harriers staged the first-ever floodlit game in the history of the FA Cup in 1951-52 at Aggborough, but their most famous cup run came in 1993/94 when they reached the last-16.
The Harriers had seen off Chesham United, Kettering and Woking before beating Birmingham City 2-1 in the third round with Jon Purdie scoring the memorable winner at St Andrew’s.
Preston North End were then stunned in the fourth round before West Ham United ended the Kidderminster cup dream with a 1-0 victory.
Did you know?
Lancaster were without a win this term prior to their 5-1 preliminary round victory over West Auckland Town. But FA Cup wins against Brighouse Town and Darlington were part of an unbeaten September for the squad.
After six wins from their last six games, confidence is understandably high according to the manager.
“It’s given everyone a lift to get through to the next round and that’s transferred to our league form,” Brown said.
“Against Darlington we got a crowd of nearly 600, which is double our normal gate. We are expecting the same again – there’s a nice buzz around the place.
“I am sure our fans will enjoy themselves. They support us through thick and thin.”
The Quakers are unbeaten in their last four games, scoring 14 goals in the process, and last played Lancaster in the 2014-15 season with a 0-0 draw.
Ones to watch
Kidderminster’s strike partnership of Arthur Gnahoua and Mani Dieseruvwe have nine goals between them in as many games this term, with midfielder Liam Truslove also chipping in with four goals.
Former Stockport County midfielder Craig Carney came off the bench in Lancaster’s last league game after returning for his third spell at the Giant Axe. His experience could be an added bonus as the Dolly Blues aim for an upset.
The prize
The victors of this tie will bag £7,500 for progressing through to fourth round qualifying, one tie away from a place in the first round draw.
