Stourbridge boss eyes an upset
Stourbridge boss Gary Hackett is convinced his history-chasing part-timers can shake the region with an FA Cup memory-maker.
Cup magic will settle on the Glassboys' historic War Memorial Ground for 90 minutes tomorrow when Hackett's men attempt the giant-killing of a League One Walsall side four levels up the football ladder.
It is a first round tie to captivate the Black Country and, after relishing the spotlight from the club's debut in the first round 133 years after Southern League Premier Division Stourbridge was formed, Hackett believes his players carry a genuine threat to Chris Hutchings's team.
The Glassboys boss said: "Our boys are going to be extremely nervous. But the trick will be to turn that nervous energy into a positive adrenalin and I think we know how to create that environment.
"Can we hurt Walsall? Yes. We believe we have detected one or two areas where we can cause them problems. Am I going to tell you where? No chance!
"The standards of facilities and pitches at all clubs have improved down the years. But it is still going to be a little bit of a shock for the Walsall lads when they get here.
"They are going to look at the surroundings and, while I wouldn't suggest they will start thinking 'I don't fancy this', it may unsettle them.
"I'm sure Chris will be drumming into his lads what to expect to prepare them for the experience, but stranger things have happened and will happen in the future than a team such as us knocking out a League One side."
A capacity crowd and six ITV outside broadcast cameras will zero in on the occasion which Hackett knows from painful experience can deal out joy and bitterness in equal measures.
The former professional was at Albion but was injured and couldn't play when the Baggies suffered a infamous FA Cup humiliation against Woking in 1991.
He recalls: "I remember the impact the result had. The place was dreadful after that and Brian Talbot lost his job."
During a remarkable seven-year stint at Stourbridge, Hackett has developed a huge respect for the part-timers which Walsall will be wise to adopt tomorrow.
He said: "The dedication is immense – I didn't realise how good I'd got it as a pro and I wish I had appreciated it more at the time.
"In football you generally get more disappointments than good days, so when they come along you've got to enjoy them."
"Walsall are obviously several levels above us but if enough of their players have an off day, and enough of our's have a good one, then you never know."
Turnstiles will open at around 11.30 tomorrow morning and Stourbridge fans can gain access via the 'old' turnstile block closer to the town centre/ring road which is being opened up for the first time in two decades for this match.
