FA Cup is all about togetherness for Kidderminster Harriers

And, with quick kickabouts in their family home, the two-year-old is playing her part to make sure the Kidderminster Harriers player is fully prepared to take on the biggest match of his life.

During his days as a football apprentice at Cambridge City – working at a drinks company call centre and a friend's upholstery cleaning company to keep the money coming in – the father of one could only have dreamed of one day taking on the big guns of the footballing world. But today was his moment to get a taste of life in the Premier League.

This season, following his arrival at the Harriers from York City last April, he has scored 12 goals including three in the FA Cup to help fire the Worcestershire club to the fourth round and a match against North East outfit Sunderland.

A total of 78 places separate the clubs in the league pyramid – but that will not stop the 27-year-old forward savouring the match, which will be watched by a huge contingent of travelling supporters.

"Sunderland away, a 46,000-seater stadium and the FA Cup – it is an amazing prospect," he said. "We knew if we beat Peterborough United in the last round we would get the fixture.

"I don't think there could have been a better incentive to go out and win.

"After setting up the tie, there has been a real buzz around the club, all the players are looking forward to it – and so are the fans." Gash scored in the club's 2-1 defeat at home to Dartford on Tuesday before training on Thursday ready for the team to travel up to Sunderland yesterday afternoon. He will be followed by his wife Sarah and Poppy, who live with the player in their family home in Kidderminster.

"We are working hard ahead of the game – we want to give it our best shot to send the fans home happy," he said. "This is a huge game for everyone at the club and, like the supporters, we're all looking forward to it. Who knows what will happen on the day."

Also looking forward to the game is Kyle Storer. The 26-year-old moved to the Harriers from Nuneaton Town in 2011 and has since taken over the captaincy at the club.

He also knows the reality of having to fund his footballing dream with a 'real' job, having worked part-time as a construction worker while based at Nuneaton. However, he made the decision to leave his career for football despite the risks involved.

"Playing football for a living is what I'd always wanted to do," he said.

"It's always a gamble, leaving your job and going full-time, but I would always have been wondering what might have been – would I regret it? I've not looked back.

"It's my aim to play in the Football League, and I want to do that with Kidderminster."

Storer, who lives in Bedworth, Warwickshire, has tickets for the game for nine family members and friends, including his girlfriend Jennifer Smith. Having had giant-killing cup experience with his first club Tamworth, he hopes to repeat the success and come away with a result today.

He said: "It will already be a massive game for the players and I know its a cliche, but to then have the crowd come along too, they will act like the 12th man and will give the team a huge lift.

"We desperately want to go out there and give a performance for them – we are not going to make up the numbers."

Lee Fowler, aged 30, has retired from the game three times – running his own building and painting company in Cardiff during one stint – but says he is at last happy, playing for the club.

The Welsh-born midfielder is no stranger to the limelight having played for Coventry City in the Premier League and represented his country at under-21 level twice. He said:

"Realistically, we shouldn't get anything from the game.

"They are a top-class team and we are a few leagues below. But football is football. We shall see, the lads are really looking forward to it."

Fowler lives in Chester with his partner Jenny and their baby Sophia Mai. He stays at a hotel in Kidderminster twice a week.

He called on the supporters to back the club following today's game as they attempt promotion to the Football League. Talking about the number of fans set to travel to the game, he said:

"The league is the priority and I hope many of them will come back and support us."

As the players prepared for today's game, members of the public and business community in the town and further afield have come together to support the club.

From last Friday morning when tickets went on sale, the club's ticket office at Aggborough has been busy with fans booking their seats at the Stadium of Light and on one of the 50 buses making the four-hour journey up to Wearside.

Among the firms taking fans up to the game is Woodstones Coaches, based on the Hoo Farm industrial estate. Director Richard Meredith said the firm usually put on one bus for away games – today he is putting on 23. He said: "It's going to be a special game for everyone at the club, and we are delighted to be involved."

The club's second sponsors C&S Solicitors unwrapped two large banners outside its offices in Comberton Hill last week. Practice manager Ian Cummings is heading to the game with his sons Oliver, seven, and Samuel, nine, who will be mascots at the match. He said: "It's the biggest game here for years and we're delighted."

John Beard, owner of John Beard Tools and Ironmongery, will not be travelling to the game but he has been supporting the club by selling scarves from his shop in Bridge Street,

Kidderminster. He said: "The only reason I cannot make the game is because of travel sickness.

"I will be at the shop on the day and listening closely on the radio. What I really hope is we can sneak a draw and bring the game back here for a replay so I can see the game myself."

Alan Watkins, owner of Cookley Family Butchers, has decorated the front of his shop with three Harriers shirts as part of the build-up to today's big game. He is getting help to run the business so he can travel up to the game on one of the official coaches.

"The most important thing for me this season is to get into the play-offs – this Saturday is a luxury which doesn't come round often," he said.

Kidderminster mayor John Campion will not be travelling to Sunderland for the game, but said he will be 'glued' to the radio. He said: "We are very proud of the journey the club have come along so far. There have been some sterling performances, and we wish the team every success."

Alan Shepherd, life president of the Kidderminster Harriers Independent Supporters' Trust, followed the club's last memorable FA Cup run 20 years ago. Under then manager Graham Allner, the Harriers beat Preston North End and Birmingham City before bowing out of the competition in the fifth round – a record for the club. Mr Shepherd, 61, admits that when he saw the Harriers beat Peterborough, it was the money to be gained from the tie in Wearside which first crossed his mind.

"I was pleased and euphoric, but to be honest my first thought was 'this is a great money spinner'," he said. "At this level any cash boost is a winner because you don't know when you will next need it, given the current economic situation in football. I'd say the chairman needs to be careful with the money and not be wasteful over it." Mr Shepherd, an ecology consultant from Droitwich, is going up on an executive coach put on by members of the supporters' trust.

He said: "As long as we go up there and give it a good go, then I will be able to come away with a smile, and that's a good enough result for me."

And for the fans who follow their beloved club through thick and thin, today's match against Premier League opponents is a dream come true.

Jan Young was travelling by coach with her partner Geoff Smith and eight-year-old nephew Callum Marchant-Walker. "There's no way we'd miss it," said Jan, 50, of Chester Road, Kidderminster, who worked for 15 years in the hospitality bar at Aggborough. "Twenty years ago on our last FA Cup run Barry Fry was the manager at Birmingham City and after we beat them he said it was the worst day of his life. "Now he is the chairman of Peterborough, ad we beat them – he must hate Kidderminster Harrierst!"

Dave Perfect, of Shearwater Close, Kidderminster, said: "It is a great achievement, we deserve to be where we are after beating a League One club away from home."

He bemoaned the recent sale of Joe Lolley, who left for Huddersfield after helping the Harriers beat Peterborough United.

He said: "We should have held on to him – he could have made a difference on Saturday."

Bill Paggott, aged 62, of Land Oak Drive in Kidderminster, said: "Who knows, we might pull something off.

"I'm excited for them, it's a big step up."

Spencer Colley, aged 30, of Brooklands Drive in Marlpool in Kidderminster, is a production team leader who has been a Harriers fan all his life.

He said: "It is a brilliant atmosphere around the club at the moment."