Rowland hoping to deliver FA Trophy upset

Keith Rowland has previously managed Wingate & Finchley, Aveley and Tilbury

He won 19 caps for Northern Ireland and played in the Premier League for Coventry City and West Ham, but nowadays Keith Rowland is a postman who is going to have to get a move on to finish his round in time for a very important game.

As well as working for the Royal Mail, Rowland is also manager of Isthmian League North club Brentwood Town, who will take on Southend United in an eagerly anticipated Essex derby in the FA Trophy on Saturday.

The reason for the rush - kick-off is at one o'clock.

"I'm a postie in Dagenham. Saturdays are getting harder and harder to get to football, and I'm quite fortunate in that I'm getting a little bit of help from my colleagues on Saturday," Rowland told BBC Essex Sport.

"If we win this one, all I'm hoping for is another home draw but with a three o'clock kick-off."

Rowland's team have already beaten one former English Football League side in the competition, winning 1-0 at Hereford to reach round three.

But there is an even bigger gap to bridge against Southend, who are three levels higher up the non-league pyramid.

Brentwood are one of only three eighth-tier sides remaining in the Trophy - the others are Sittingbourne, who are at home to Enfield Town, while Hadley travel to Oxford City.

Despite years of financial problems that threatened the club's future and inconsistent league form that has put them 14th in the National League, Southend will be firm favourites against opponents from just 20 miles away.

"For us to turn round and think, 'This is winnable', it's a hard task, but you always have to dream you can do it," said Rowland.

"I am sure every one of my players, apart from the goalkeeper, is hoping to score the winning goal. There's nothing wrong with having ambition if it's manageable. Why not think positive about the game?"

A lot of work has gone on since the third-round draw was made to get Brentwood's 2,000-capacity ground ready for the tie.

Meanwhile, the team have been busy playing four league games, and they will go into the game against the Shrimpers following successive away victories of 1-0 at Brightlingsea Regent and 3-1 at Heybridge Swifts, which have lifted them to seventh in the table.

"We've had so many games, we haven't had much time to think about it, which is good, but it was always in the back of our minds," Rowland added.

"I'm disappointed that we had to play on Tuesday night, with Southend not having a game themselves, but we were happy to get through it with a win."

Southend last tasted success when they won the EFL Trophy in 2013 and would love to challenge for silverware in their first season since last summer's takeover by a consortium, led by Australian businessman Justin Rees.

'We'll prepare as we would for a league game'

Striker Aribim Pepple has scored four goals for Southend this season

They are unbeaten in their last three games, winning 2-0 at Halifax last Saturday with goals from Aribim Pepple and Adam Crowther.

Although regaining their place in the EFL is the top priority for boss Kevin Maher, he has ruled out "taking anything lightly" against Brentwood.

"It's a game we want to win, and we think we can make changes and still be strong," he said.

"We'll prepare as we would for any league game, with the same attention to detail. Our prep is pretty standard, and we'll be ready for it."

Southend have played Brentwood before, winning 10-1 when they met in the second round of the 1968-69 FA Cup.

But Maher said: "I think they'll be confident after the last round, beating Hereford. They have a lot of dangerous players in attacking areas; they play some good football at times, and I think it will be a competitive one and one we've got to be ready for."

"They'll be coming in with nothing to lose and give it a real go."

However, Rowland is "under no illusions" about the task facing his players with Southend likely to have the majority of possession.

"This will be like an away game because we'll have to work hard without the ball," the 53-year-old added.

"We just want to compete as best we can over the 90 minutes. It's a great game for the club, the players and the people who have been at Brentwood for a long time."

Kick-off is early for Saturday's game because there is a boxing event at the Brentwood Centre from 17:00