Club prepares for 'emotional' first FA Cup game

Director Wayne Oliver said the team would give the competition their "best shot"

A men's Worcestershire football club is set to enter the FA Cup for the first time in their history, with a club director describing it as a "proud and emotional moment".

Droitwich Spa FC will play away to Racing Club Warwick on Saturday in the FA Cup extra preliminary round - the first in the club's 40 year history.

Director Wayne Oliver said: "We're going to give it our best shot. If we can win a game and if we can go on and win the next game, we'll just see where it will take us. I will be so proud to watch them lads walk out onto that pitch."

The club's manager, Andy Crowther, said the team had reached their goal early after gaining consecutive promotions in the last two seasons.

"I think there was a five year plan for us to eventually get into the FA Cup and I think we've done it a year early," he said.

"As soon as we knew we'd won the league last year, we also knew we'd be in the FA Cup this year.

"It is just brilliant for the whole community and the people in the background who have put all the hard work in."

Andy Crowther said the team reached the FA Cup a year ahead of schedule

Striker James Lemon said the atmosphere had changed since he first joined 10 years ago.

"I was here 10 years ago when there was just a white barrier around [the pitch] with a man and his dog watching the games.

"You look at it now and we're getting crowds of 200-300 people per week and people travelling to away games.

"The whole aura around the club has just changed. It's brilliant."