Pressure won't crack Glassboys

Tomorrow's FA Cup second round tie against Eastleigh might have been passed over for live television coverage but there is no shortage of attention, with the presence of the Football Focus crew ensuring that for a few short hours at least, media coverage of the Glassboys will rival the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal.

Several players, along with manager Gary Hackett, have already been the subject of TV interviews. All plenty of fun, according to Pierpoint, who is nevertheless keen to stress no-one is losing sight of the overall goal.

"You can get carried away with things like this, all the media attention," he says.

"You get sucked in.

"We'll let the club and the fans do that but as players we've got to remember there is a game at the end of all this."

Even Pierpoint claims to have been struck by the relaxed mood around Amblecote in the build-up to a game which could see Stour make history by reaching the third round – and all the possible riches that entails – for the first time.

Maybe that should come as no surprise as, after all, manager Gary Hackett has hardly assembled a team of novices.

Several members of the squad have played at this stage of the competition for the club before, most notably goalkeeper Lewis Solly and midfielders Ben Billingham and Leon Broadhurst.

The trio were involved when Stour missed out in 2011 and 2013 at the second round stage, on both occasions losing to Stevenage.

"All the lads have been in this situation before, to some degree," continued Pierpoint. "We have all played in big games."

Even so, the skipper admits there is a special feel about this run, which has already seen Stour beat two teams from the National League Premier in Kidderminster and Dover.

It means tomorrow's opponents, while respected, also represent what is perceived as a winnable route through to the third round and a possible dream date with a Premier League opponent.

"I have been speaking to Leon Broadhurst in the past week and he says there is a different feel to his cup run," says Pierpoint, who joined the Glassboys in the summer.

"There is a level-headedness about everyone at the club, a calmness.

"We know they are a good team but we also know if we play anywhere near to the standard we reached at Dover we know we can cause them problems.

"We will have to deal with their quality but they will have to deal with ours too."

At a club who reached the first round for the first time in its history just six years ago, any progress in the competition is received with delight and this is already a successful cup campaign, whatever happens from now.

That doesn't mean the players aren't acutely aware of what is at stake.

"The difference between a first round and second round tie in the FA Cup really is monumental," says Pierpoint.

"It is an achievement to reach the first round and you want to get through but once you do, you realise you are just one game away from the tie of a lifetime.

"We know we are 90 minutes from a win which could completely transform the club."