Village club want FA Cup 'dream to continue'

Bishops Cleeve caused a major shock by beating Torquay thanks to goals from Ethan Dunbar (centre left) and two from Ross Langworthy (centre right)

Bishops Cleeve manager Paul Collicutt says he wants the "dream to continue" as his eighth-tier side aim for more FA Cup glory this weekend.

The Mitres pulled off a major shock in the second qualifying round by beating Torquay United 3-0, and welcome another National League South side in Chesham United to Kayte Lane on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Collicutt said the win over Torquay was one of the best days he had ever experienced in football and that his side would be ready for another difficult game.

"I’m hoping if we can rally sleepy Bishop's Cleeve awake again like we did in the Torquay game, who’s to say what might happen," he added.

Paul Collicutt said their result against Torquay put the Mitres on the football map

Bishops Cleeve beat Torquay thanks to a Ross Langworthy double, and Ethan Dunbar's strike in a tie described as the biggest game in the Southern League Division One South side's history.

"All of sudden its put us on the football map. I had people ringing me up from all over Europe and not believing the result and how convincing the performance was," said Collicutt.

"It took a while for the result to sink in. I was on a high. It’s just something you dream of. Over the years you have ups and down but when you have a game like that it puts everything in perspective."

If they can repeat the feat against Chesham they will equal their best ever FA Cup run by reaching the fourth qualifying round - one step before the first round proper.

"I'm very excited, really looking forward to it," added the Mitres boss.

"Chesham are going to be well-prepared, they’re a solid side and they’ve made a good start in the league so it’s going to be a very difficult game for us.

"The lads are going to be ready. If we turn up, we give them a game, if we don’t turn up we’ll get beaten."

Collicutt has asked for the village to turn up in their numbers to support the team again

The team play in the village of Bishop's Cleeve, near Cheltenham, which has a population of just over 14,000.

Collicutt said the village coming out to support them against Torquay gave "everyone a big lift" and has called on them to do the same against Chesham.

"I want to get the village to turn out in their numbers to support the club again. We’ve sold in the region of 400-450 tickets and we’re hoping to go beyond that.

"It's going to be a very difficult game but hopefully we can hit the heights again."

The Mitres will need to lift themselves again as last weekend, a week after their big FA Cup win, they lost 2-0 to Melksham in the FA Trophy - "this is the joy of non-league football", said Collicutt.

'Best cup competition in the world'

The Bishops Cleeve boss' playing career saw him turn out for several West Country teams including Swindon Town, Forest Green Rovers and Cheltenham Town.

He is hoping Saturday will create more memories for his side and the community.

"I was at the car wash the other day and the guy comes up and says my lad was at the Torquay game and he said to his dad that was the best day of his life.

"It’s the best cup competition in the world," added Collicutt.