Town rallies together to dream of FA Cup glory

Chris Kenny said the FA Cup tie "brings us all together"

FA Cup excitement has gripped a town as it gets ready for its club to face Football League opposition.

Gainsborough Trinity FC have reached the first round proper of the competition and will play Accrington Stanley on Sunday, with a 17:15 GMT kick-off at Kal Group Stadium.

Last year, the club reached the second round of the cup but were defeated 1-0 by Harrogate Town.

Fan Neville Pettinger, 87, said: "All being well we can win. It's very good for the town. Up the Blues!"

Leon McCulla has been a fan since he was at school

The town was buzzing with excitement as those who had secured tickets eagerly awaited the match.

Chris Kenny, 59, predicted a 2-1 win for Gainsborough, as "we are going into the next round".

"I'm looking forward to it. It's a great boost and brings us all together," he added.

Leon McCulla, 58, said he had been a fan since secondary school.

"It's a big team to face [from] the Football League, so if they have an off-day we stand a good chance of winning," he said.

Chloe Henshaw is hoping for a boost in business over the weekend

Chloe Henshaw, who works in Alfie's Deli in the Market Place, said: "It's extremely great for the town. I'm off with my husband and dad to support the mighty Blues."

Emma Galley, 46, who lived in Gainsborough as a child before moving to Liverpool, has returned to the town with her sons to watch the game.

"It's quite exciting. I just hope they do as well as they did last year. It's really good for the town," she said.

Groundsman Jon Wood and apprentice Harry Bishop, 21, are both lifelong fans of Gainsborough Trinity

Jon Wood, 62, who has been groundsman at the stadium for 29 years, was busy spraying the pitch to give it a "nice green effect" ahead of the game.

He said he was feeling "quietly confident" and predicted a 2-1 win for Gainsborough.

"I'm a lifelong fan, not just a groundsman," he said. "We will be getting behind the boys.

"We've gone years and years without getting anywhere near it and then two years we're in the FA Cup and on television."

BBC Radio Lincolnshire will cover the game with the broadcast also available to listen to afterwards.

It will also be shown live on TNT Sports and Discovery+.

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