Whing knows how life-changing the FA Cup can be

Barrow boss Andy Whing says the FA Cup helped make his name

Barrow boss Andy Whing knows from personal experience how life-changing the FA Cup can be for non-league Spennymoor.

League Two Barrow visit the Brewery Field on Saturday and Whing says his FA Cup heroics with Banbury and Solihull helped make his coaching career.

He took over at Barrow just weeks after guiding Solihull to the FA Cup second round and is fully aware how fired up Spennymoor will be for this weekend's tie.

The North East club play in the National League North, two tiers below Barrow, and Whing told BBC Radio Cumbria: "I think Saturday is a massive game for the football club.

"It's kind of got me to where I am today, that FA Cup. When I was at Banbury, for two, three years we were in the first round on TV.

"And then on ITV last year with Solihull against Bromley in the second round.

"I know how important it is financially and for the football club, even for careers. The spotlight it gives players, individuals, to go and showcase themselves at a higher level."

Whing is on a high with Barrow, having beaten league leaders Walsall, and then drawing with Barnet, despite being reduced to 10 men in both games.

The Cumbrian side are unbeaten in six League Two games and Whing was thrilled by the way they came back from 2-1 down to earn a point against Barnet on Saturday.

"Obviously, the sending off changes the game completely, especially with the wind," he said. "It gave us a mountain to climb, even though we were 1-0 up, because of the wind in the second half and their away record.

"But it was an outstanding shift from the players, again. It's unbelievable to play two games, pretty much most of them, with 10 men and to come away with four points against the league leaders and then Barnet."