FA CUP THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND PREVIEW: Nuneaton Borough FC v Stamford AFC (see it on the thefa.com by clicking HERE)
Nuneaton Borough of the Conference North play host to Stamford AFC - a team three levels below them, and eight tiers below the Premier League. The tie may seem a formality for Nuneaton, who held Middlesbrough to a Third Round draw two years ago.
But the Daniels - as Stamford are known as the largest man in England, 52st Daniel Lambert, who died in 1809, is buried 100yds from their stadium - are hoping to give their opponents something to chew on.
In his three years as manager at the Vic Couzens Stadium - a ground that lays claim to being the oldest in non-League history, dating back to 1870 - bricklayer Graham Drury has achieved unprecedented success.
He said: "In my first year we got promotion to the Unibond Southern Premier League. We won three trophies that year. I took the lads to the highest position they have ever been last year - eighth in the Southern Premier League.
"In three years we have been in three different divisions. It has taken us a little time to get used to this league - the Unibond Northern Premier League. The football is a bit more direct. We have had to adapt to that, and we seem to have done that now."
His players are expecting a physical encounter with Nuneaton. "They are an organised and strong northern outfit," Drury continued. "We are the underdogs, but after winning our last five games we have got some confidence about us."
Upbeat manager Drury, who believes that teamwork is the keystone to success, thinks his charges can overcome the odds and win.
"We have to go there without a fear, and go with the attitude that we have nothing to lose. I'm sure Nuneaton are thinking this is a potential banana skin. We are certainly going there for the throat.
"Our aim is to get to the first round proper - we have never got that far. I always like to break records, and I've broken a few at Stamford so far. Let's hope it continues this year with Stamford in the FA Cup this year."
Nuneaton Borough of the Conference North play host to Stamford AFC - a team three levels below them, and eight tiers below the Premier League. The tie may seem a formality for Nuneaton, who held Middlesbrough to a Third Round draw two years ago.
But the Daniels - as Stamford are known as the largest man in England, 52st Daniel Lambert, who died in 1809, is buried 100yds from their stadium - are hoping to give their opponents something to chew on.
In his three years as manager at the Vic Couzens Stadium - a ground that lays claim to being the oldest in non-League history, dating back to 1870 - bricklayer Graham Drury has achieved unprecedented success.
He said: "In my first year we got promotion to the Unibond Southern Premier League. We won three trophies that year. I took the lads to the highest position they have ever been last year - eighth in the Southern Premier League.
"In three years we have been in three different divisions. It has taken us a little time to get used to this league - the Unibond Northern Premier League. The football is a bit more direct. We have had to adapt to that, and we seem to have done that now."
His players are expecting a physical encounter with Nuneaton. "They are an organised and strong northern outfit," Drury continued. "We are the underdogs, but after winning our last five games we have got some confidence about us."
Upbeat manager Drury, who believes that teamwork is the keystone to success, thinks his charges can overcome the odds and win.
"We have to go there without a fear, and go with the attitude that we have nothing to lose. I'm sure Nuneaton are thinking this is a potential banana skin. We are certainly going there for the throat.
"Our aim is to get to the first round proper - we have never got that far. I always like to break records, and I've broken a few at Stamford so far. Let's hope it continues this year with Stamford in the FA Cup this year."
Labels: David Lambert, FA Cup, football, Stamford
