Gary Hackett says drawing Kidderminster Harriers at home in the Emirates FA Cup draw was the perfect scenario, and would have been his number one choice "by a country mile".
The draw for the fourth round qualifying was made live on national radio, and Hackett's Stourbridge were handed a plum home tie against their local rivals.
The two towns are just eight miles apart, and the former Shrewsbury, WBA and Stoke City winger said everybody is thrilled to be welcoming their neighbours from other end of the Hagley Road.
Stourbridge v Kidderminster Harriers
The Emirates FA Cup
Fourth Round Qualifying
3pm, Saturday 24 October 2015
War Memorial Ground, Stourbridge
Winners receive £12,500
"Like a lot of people I was listening to it on TalkSPORT," he told TheFA.com.
"I think if anybody would have asked me what would have been our utopian draw, Kidderminster at home would have been number one by a country mile.
"It’s brilliant that it’s at home as well. There’s always a fantastic atmosphere at Stourbridge.
"It’s a great ground – it’s three-sided and was voted in the paper as one of the best and most quirky non-League grounds around. It really is a great place to play football."
He continued: "The players will all be the same as me. They’ll have all tuned in to listen to the draw live on the radio.
"I sent them all a group e-mail very quickly after and there’s already a lot of chatter going about it. Everybody is hugely excited."
It will only be the the near-neighbours' second post-war meeting in the FA Cup, with their only other encounter taking place in 1949 when they were paired together in the preliminary round.
Stourbridge manager Gary Hackett
After a goalless first encounter, the Glassboys travelled to Kidderminster and won the replay by 3-2.
They now play their football in the Northern Premier League Premier Division – two tiers below Kidderminster Harriers in the National League.
However, the Harriers currently find themselves rock bottom of the fifth tier – and without a win in 18 outings so far this term.
But that is not something which will matter much on the day, according to Hackett.
"As much as Kidderminster are struggling in the league, they’re a full-time club," he continued.
"We will go in there as underdogs, we know that, but we’ve certainly got a sporting chance.
"We’ve got to go in there believing that we can cause a major upset.
“As everybody is aware you can get through a few rounds and it can set you up for years”
Gary Hackett on the virtues of a Cup run
"The interest is going to be massive, it will surely be a sell-out and although I might be a little bit biased, I would say it’s probably the pick of the round."
However Stourbridge, a part-time team who count a teacher and a bank manager among their ranks, are not entering uncharted territory.
In the past six seasons they have made it to through the qualifying rounds on two occasions – twice into the first round and once into the second.
And as well as the pride and prestige those runs have brought, there is, Hackett says, another aspect to consider for teams operating at grassroots level.
"The prize money is massive too," he continued.
"Our FA Cup runs in the past have enabled us to progress as a football club – both on the pitch and off it.
"As everybody is aware you can get through a few rounds and it can set you up for years."
