The Sheppey United football club is buzzing with anticipation as they prepare to face Walsall in the First Round of the FA Cup this Friday.
For the dedicated volunteers who have tirelessly rebuilt the club from the ground up over the past decade, this high-profile FA Cup match is the ultimate reward.
The team, known as the “Ites,” will host League Two side Walsall at Holm Park, with the game set to be televised, marking a historic milestone for the club. Sheppey United has come a long way, having essentially started from scratch in the early 21st century.
In recent years, they’ve made significant progress, winning the Kent Senior Trophy twice and clinching the 2022 Southern Counties Eastern Football League Premier Division title.
This Friday night showdown is undoubtedly the club’s most significant moment to date, as they aim to pull off a surprise victory against a team from a division four levels above them in the football hierarchy. According to Lee Allen, the club’s kitman and social media manager, this match is of paramount importance in terms of attendance and viewership.
Allen expressed, “I have also been at games where we have won the league or cup, but this is going to be the one that is going to live in the memory for a long time.
A couple of years ago we won four trophies in one season and it didn’t really capture the attention it should have done. Whereas with us being the lowest-ranked team in the FA Cup First Round, it has attracted a lot of media interest and put Sheppey on the map.”
The community is thrilled, and this achievement is seen as a well-deserved acknowledgment of everyone’s hard work, time, and financial contributions over the years to bring the club to this exciting moment.
Interest in the match is soaring, with a flood of ticket requests. The club’s capacity is 1400, but they could have easily sold 2,500 or even 3,000 tickets due to the overwhelming demand.
Captain Richie Hamill is optimistic about their chances under the Friday night lights, especially if the home fans can recreate the electric atmosphere from their recent replay against Billericay.
While acknowledging that it will be a tough challenge, he believes that, on their home turf, they can compete with almost any opponent if luck is on their side and they play at their best.
Hamill shared, “It is always the dream to reach the First Round and get a big tie, and luckily that’s what we got this year.
It’s been a great journey up until now in the FA Cup, but this is the icing on the cake.” The excitement is palpable as Sheppey United gears up for their historic First Round clash with Walsall.
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