No excuse for Stourbridge on their long away trip
Stourbridge boss Ian Long has warned his players there is no excuse not to perform as they prepare to take on Whitby in the FA Cup.
A place in the first round proper of the world’s oldest cup competition awaits the winners of the game, which is taking place in North Yorkshire tomorrow (3pm).
The Glassboys have a rich history in the competition having reached the first round in five of the last 10 years. And in a bid to create more Cup magic, the team was set to travel up to Yorkshire today.
“As a football club we know what it takes to be successful in this competition,” Long said.
“That’s why it was decided we would travel up on Friday.
“That will allow us to be better prepared for this game than any other we have played this season. So there really are no excuses not to perform.
“We’ve been drawn against a side playing at the same level. It’s not a draw against a team that is full-time.
“It is two part-time teams who will both be looking at this game as a huge opportunity.
“We have to go out there and make sure we are the team that gets through.”
While Stourbridge have a rich history in the FA Cup, Long and the majority of the club’s players haven’t reached the first-round before.
“The history of the club makes you want to do it even more,” the boss added.
“It is a real achievement to get through the first round and we want to be part of a team that does it.
“We’ve got a few lads here who were part of those teams that did it and went even further in the past.
“Tom Tonks often tells the story of when he hit the crossbar against Wycombe in the third-round, even though it was with a mishit cross.
“It will be great if we can create more cup memories with this group of lads.”
The draw for the first round of the FA Cup will take place on Monday.
This year, due to Bury’s expulsion from the Football League, the team that is drawn last out of the hat will receive a bye to the second round, as well as first round prize money.
