Stamford AFC have proved that they really are the ‘replay kings’ after they beat Wrexham 3-2 to secure their place in the FA Cup first round.
This is the first time they have qualified in the clubs 120-year existence and they will play League Two Hartlepool on Sunday 6th November.
First team communications director Richard Curtis believes that this is a game that will go down in Stamford AFC folklore.
“It’s a huge achievement for the club, we have only ever got close to qualifying a couple of times in our history so to be able to finally do it is great. Drawing a league two team away from home has created a massive hype.
“We are looking to take 400 plus people up to Hartlepool, bearing in mind our home games are around the 300 mark it shows how much extra support we have” said Richard.
The team from a town of less than 20 thousand people now has a social media following building by the day and people from far and wide are now interested in the Lincolnshire club.
Despite the priority always being to get the team prepared for the game, it’s been all hands on the deck behind the scenes trying to get as much publicity as possible.
“It’s been truly remarkable; it’s so good that so many people want to take an interest in what is a little team at the end of the day.
“The club is basically run by volunteers and thankfully we have volunteers who have retired and they have been spending day after day preparing for this game” Richard added.
This achievement is a far cry from when they had their relegation reprieve overturned back in June.
After not picking up enough points in the league they were going to be relegated, however Cinderford Town met with the FA because they did not want a promotion, it was decided that Stamford would be reprieved because they were the best placed team.
The opportunity was then taken from them after the decision was overturned because other clubs appealed.
“It was the biggest kick that anybody could give a club, everybody felt deflated and disappointed. It just proves football is like a roller-coaster, there was a little bit of a high being reprieved then the massive low of it being overturned.
“All I can say is that this great cup run has certainly made up for it” said Richard.
Despite what has been documented, Stamford plan to be sensible with the money they have earned from this cup run.
Richard believes that there are too many clubs that have a good cup run but don’t invest in the club’s infrastructure. Stamford hope to build the club and plan for the long term.
This is the second-time Graham Drury has qualified for the FA Cup first round, he did the same with Corby Town in 2011. Although some fans believe it was the wrong direction reappointing Graham for his third stint, he has certainly been an asset so far.
“We were struggling in the league and we needed results, that’s one thing Graham can do. He gets the best out of the players and gets them motivated with the right tactics” Richard added.
Stamford, hope they can emulate Chasetown who made it to the third round in 2008, Richard would love for his side to come up against a big club.
“People talk of Manchester United and Liverpool but that would be beyond our wildest dreams to get to that stage. We’re not aiming to give up and we want to get as far as we possibly can.”