Olly Murs has done more than most to put Essex on the map – and now he wants Coggeshall Town to represent his home county in the latter rounds of the Emirates FA Cup.
The pop star, who shot to fame on The X Factor in 2009, is joint-owner of the ‘Seed Growers’ along with family friend and club manager Graeme Smith.
The Isthmian League North side will play in The FA Cup for the first time in their 140-year history when they take on Murs’ hometown club Witham Town on Friday night.
Murs said: “We are the oldest club never to have played in the competition so this is massive for us.
“It really catches the imagination of the fans, it catches the imagination of the town and the players. We’re really excited. Even I’m super excited.
“I’d love to get into the first round. Every team in The FA Cup preliminary rounds, everyone aims to get to the first round.
“If you get to the first round and play a Bristol City, Bristol Rovers, or Colchester United, you play and on TV; that would be massive.”
The 34-year-old, who spent two seasons with Witham Town, first got involved with Coggeshall as a kit sponsor, then as a player and he then helped fund the club’s new floodlights. And it snowballed from there.
Coggeshall have enjoyed three consecutive promotions and Murs knows the increased Emirates FA Cup prize fund could help the club progress even further.
He explained: “We win just under £3,000 if we win on Friday. That’s massive for us. It will pay the bar staff, wages for players. That helps us. That will keep us going for three or four weeks.
“First round, you’re talking five figures and possibly six figures maybe – depending on who we draw out. At non-league [level] it is vital, that is what people don’t realise.
“Non-league clubs who go further, like Lincoln; the amount of money they made from getting to the quarters and playing Arsenal, you don’t realise how much that is going to help that club. You are talking millions. They’re sorted for a few years. That will build a stand. That will build a new training ground.”
Murs is a Manchester United season ticket holder who often turns out for Soccer Aid games at Old Trafford.
But his roots are in non-league football, where his uncle John Pollard enjoyed spells with Heybridge Swifts, St Albans and Sudbury.
And he cannot overstate the importance of The FA Cup to clubs outside England’s top four divisions.
He said: “What is there not to love about The FA Cup?
“20-30 years ago, The FA Cup was the one to win, even over Europe. It was such a big trophy for the fans and I still think it is.
“I’ve been at Wembley and seen United win The FA Cup but for us at non-league level, The FA Cup is the Champions League of football.”
And never one to forget his Essex upbringing, Murs hopes a good Cup run can help lift the local community.
He added: “I am hoping The FA Cup will inspire the families and people around the area – people who are unsure what we’re trying to achieve – to maybe come down and watch the game and maybe think ‘wow, this is really exciting’.
“That is what The FA Cup does. Football can do that sometimes. It can reignite something that people might not be feeling.
“Witham Town is very special to me because I used to play for them. And I am playing against them as the owner of this club. This is a big game for the community and the town of Coggeshall.”
Murs continued: “We might get to the first round, third round, who knows? We’ve got ex-pro players with ability. We’re in a good place, we’re confident.
“I believe we can do well in The FA Cup. Wouldn’t it be amazing to tell your kids in 15 years’ time, we got to the first round of The FA Cup?”
