Alvechurch captain Jamie Willets hopes that Saturday’s FA Cup second-round clash against Forest Green Rovers will be a ‘springboard’ for the club moving forwards.
The lowest-ranked side in the competition beat Cheltenham Town in the first round and return to Gloucestershire to face Ian Burchnall’s side at the New Lawn Stadium.
A brace from Danny Waldron earned the Church a 2-1 victory in front of a sold-out away end at the Completely Suzuki Stadium.
And the skipper believes facing Rovers will be another huge occasion for the club.
“It’s been nice to see some of the younger lads getting really buzzed up for it and it’s been my pleasure just to help them through it and give them some guidance,” Willets said.
“The emotions do run high under the pressure, and being on tv there’s that added bit of pressure.
“We have to treat it like every other game, but I’ve got to try my best to keep to my normal routine and just not thinking too much into it.
“It’s been an amazing run with some fantastic moments, not even just playing Cheltenham some of the games before against the likes of Nuneaton and Worksop were big games and we came up trumps against them.”
After missing out last time out, Alvechurch’s game has been selected for terrestrial coverage and will be shown live on BBC One – which will be of huge benefit to the club.
“For the club financially it’s very good, I think for putting us on the map it’ll be very useful,” said Willets who also teaches at Bewdley School.
“When I first joined the club six years ago, we were a village team and playing step five football.
“We’re starting to be recognised and get noticed, I know the highlights from the Cheltenham game have gone completely viral and people are starting to take notice.
“Being on TV in the midst of the World Cup, a 3 o’clock kick-off we’re hoping lots of football fans will tune in and watch the game, but most importantly we need to perform.”
The Church could end up facing a Premier League side should they progress into the third round, a prospect that isn’t lost on Willets.
“We firstly have to beat Forest Green first, away from home and four leagues above it’s a massive task,” he admitted.
“But if we were to win and we have that luck on our side then it would be absolutely incredible to play against a Premier League side.
“With regards to our team, we’ve got myself who’s a teacher and a few of the other lads who work in construction and a few Amazon drivers.
“For us to get the opportunity to play against the very best would be a dream come true and it’s exactly what the cup is all about.
“We saw Marine play Tottenham Hotspur a couple of years, the likes of Gareth Bale came off the bench and all the big guns played, so it can happen and we hope we can get there.”
