Kevin Horlock: Needham Market boss 'couldn't be prouder' of team's FA Cup run
- Published
Kevin Horlock's Needham Market went out of the FA Cup in the first round last season, when they were beaten at League One side Burton Albion
Needham Market boss Kevin Horlock said he "couldn't be prouder" after his team earned a place in the FA Cup first round draw for the second year running.
The Marketmen secured a home replay against National League side York City with a 0-0 final qualifying round draw.
And the winners of Tuesday's game will travel to Chester in the first round.
"We hung in there and put everything on the line for each other as a collective and deserve the replay," Horlock told BBC Radio Suffolk.
"We're still massive underdogs, but we're at home and we'll be ready. There'll be some tired legs but we'll rest and recuperate and be raring to go on Tuesday."
Needham Market play in Southern League Premier Division Central - the seventh tier of English football - and are currently third in the table after winning six of their opening 10 games.
They reached the first round for the first time in the club's history last season before losing 2-0 to League One side Burton Albion.
And they beat FC Romania, Hashtag United and Peterborough Sports to set up the tie against York.
Former Northern Ireland international Horlock, who reached the last 16 as a player with Swindon Town in 1996, said: "It's an opportunity to get into the first round (again), which we've only done once, last season, and it was a special occasion. These lads are desperate for success and to get there if they can. I think there's still an opportunity.
"The players want to push themselves, they want to play on the big occasion like we did at Burton. I want the young players to experience that early in their career and the old players to experience it again.
"Hopefully we perform well (in the replay) and it would be a dream come true if we get the result."
Horlock admitted his team had to hang on at times against York, who are 17th in National League.
"I thought we defended really well, they didn't cause too many problems throughout the game. Obviously in the later stages, we got a little bit tired but we had a few half decent chances and on another day we could have nicked it," he added.
"It's the reason we've started the season so well, they all work so hard for each other and you can see how much it means to them. We hung in there and put everything on the line for each other as a collective and deserve the replay."