Sears' Jammers hunting FA Cup shock at Port Vale

Freddie Sears played 36 Premier League games and 213 in the Championship

Freddie Sears admits the ultimate underdog tag does not sit comfortably with him heading into Sunday's FA Cup tie at Port Vale.

The former West Ham and Ipswich striker will lead the line for Isthmian League North leaders Maldon & Tiptree as the eighth-tier minnows attempt to shock their League One opponents at Vale Park in the first round.

"I think we've got the tag of the lowest-ranked team in the FA Cup which I can say I've never been part of before - it feels quite funny - but I'm really looking forward to it," Sears told BBC Essex.

"This FA Cup run started in August and we've played five games already. This is like our cup final really. To get to the first round proper as a non-league club is your big day out.

"It's going to be tough. We're up against a very good League One team. But this is the FA Cup. This is what it's about - the giant killing. We've seen it before and I've no doubt we'll see it again. We've got nothing to lose. We're going there to win the game."

Freddie Sears scored 34 goals in 217 appearances for Ipswich between 2015-21

Sears has already scored 15 goals this season for the Essex club, who reached the second round six years after knocking out Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road.

"I am 35 now but I still like to keep fit and healthy and the results are showing at the minute," he said.

"As a striker you want to get as many goals as possible - especially as when you come down to these levels you have a bit of expectation [on you] as well so it's nice to get the goals.

"The team-mates obviously help with that - we have really good players in the team.

"I'm really enjoying it at the minute which is what I want to be doing at this stage of my career."

The Jammers' spending power has been transformed by the arrival of ownership duo Barrie and Scott Drewitt-Barlow eight months ago and manager Kevin Horlock has assembled a squad with plenty of English Football League experience.

They may be underdogs but they are underdogs with bite.

"Barrie and Scott said from day one, when they came in, that they wanted to take this club up the pyramid to the league and we recruited with that in mind," said Horlock.

"A lot of our players have played at Port Vale's level and some higher. Although in stature we are a step-four team, I think the team is much better than that."

'This is probably the first week there's no pressure'

Kevin Horlock (left) - like Freddie Sears - began his career with West Ham

The set-up around the squad is also much more advanced than their position in the pyramid would suggest.

"Quite often at this level most players have different jobs so your players are maybe plumbers or electricians, some are even trying to juggle two or three jobs," said sporting director Mitch Cowling.

"But we're in a really fortunate position that probably 90% of our team haven't actually got additional jobs.

"They might have a football interest somewhere like a little bit of coaching here or there but generally we have a hybrid system so some of the players come in full-time.

"We have pros like Freddie Sears and Tom Eastman that are now part-time but we're able to offer a good enough package to have a comfortable living from a part-time football role."

With investment comes expectation and Horlock knows promotion is a non-negotiable this season.

Sunday's cup tie, for the former Manchester City midfielder, represents a free hit.

"This is probably the first week there's no pressure," said Horlock.

"We set this as a target to get to the first round proper when Barrie and Scott came in. They've invested a lot of time and money in the football club so that was something we wanted to achieve. We've done that.

"We still want to progress but it's a tough ask going to Port Vale away.

"Hopefully they have an off day, hopefully we have a bit of luck and then you just never know do you?"