Emley AFC bid for a place in the FA Vase semi-finals for the first time in 36 years as they go to Worcester City for a sell-out clash on Saturday (3.00).
It’s a showdown between the two best teams left in the competition and one will be left disappointed.
It’s the first ever meeting between the two sides, although both clubs do have a rich FA Cup heritage.
Emley went close to earning a draw at West Ham in 1998 after knocking out two football league clubs, but Worcester can add two FA Cup winners to their list of scalps, Coventry City in 2014 and unbelievably, Liverpool in 1959 on their way to the 4th round!
Emley will take more than 200 fans on their journey south and boss Richard Tracey admitted he’d have preferred a home tie.
“My first instinct was to be disappointed with the draw because I wanted to be at home,” Tracey told the club’s website. “However, looking back we’ve been really lucky all season with that. Apart from the Brigg game we’ve been drawn at home every round.
“It would have been nice to get Worcester travelling up to us but we have to go there. They are a very good side.
“We’ve seen bits of them on their social media channels and watched a few full game videos and they are a very good footballing side. Despite that, we believe that what we’ve got in our dressing room can compete with them.
“It’ll be a really good game and whatever happens I think we’ve got an FA Vase run that we can be proud of like with the FA Cup.
“If we make it through to the semi-finals that’ll be an amazing achievement. If It’s the end of our chapter on Saturday in this cup, then we’ll wish Worcester all the best and we’ll come back and focus on trying to get out of the league.
“All I can say is that whatever happens it’s going to be a great weekend for the lads, the fans and everyone involved.”
The team had an overnight stay in a hotel and Tracey added: “The club have looked after us fantastically well to help us prepare for the game.
“We’ve sold out our allocation of 240 tickets. We’re really proud of the fact that we’ve got good support there cheering us on.
“We’ve got a really good backing and hopefully we can put on a performance for them that gets us through to the next round and gives them something to celebrate.”
Main image by: Huddersfield Hub photographer SEAN DOYLE