FA Cup round one draw 'emotional' for club and town

A last gasp goal helped Tadley Calleva seal an FA Cup replay

A football club assistant manager has said he cannot express how much reaching the FA Cup first round draw means for their town.

On Saturday, Tadley Calleva FC drew 2-2 against Aldershot Town, who play four divisions higher, and secured their place in the competition draw for the first time.

The non-league club has made it through four rounds of the FA Cup - the furthest it had ever got - and now has the chance to reach the first round proper with a home replay on Tuesday.

"If we show the best version of ourselves, I believe we'll be in round one come Tuesday at 10 o'clock," assistant manager George Coffin said.

Rob Mellor Football players in yellow kit celebrate as they score a goal. Players in red kit hang their heads in defeat.Rob Mellor
Tadley Calleva FC drew 2-2 against Aldershot Town on Saturday

Tadley Calleva will be the lowest-ranked team in Monday's draw, but Coffin said they were feeling "actually quite confident".

"The boys were just fantastic," he said.

"We feel that if we face the same level of Aldershot team that we can go through."

More than 880 travelling fans celebrated the team scoring two goals at the Recreation Ground - a moment he described as "emotional".

"I've got my brother, my sister-in-law in there, other members of the family - just seeing how much it means to all of them and everyone from Tadley, really," he said.

Coffin, who was born and grew up in the town, said the committee, players and some supporters would be watching the draw together at the club.

"No one expects us to be here, no one expected us to draw, we had a really good chance to win it as well on Saturday," he said.

"We've beaten many teams in the leagues above in previous rounds, so this is all just a bonus for us, but we'll be giving it a good go."

Rob Mellor Football players in yellow kit celebrate with fans who are reaching out to them with expressions of triumph and happiness. Some are punching the air with fists.Rob Mellor
More than 880 travelling fans celebrated the team scoring two goals at the Recreation Ground