The fact that we had to overcome Blyth in the replay was a little more hard to take. Having come so close to beating them at their place first time round, it was always going to be tough, but a last minute goal from Karl Edwards set up our glamour tie. If we thought we were going to bask in the limelight, it soon became clear that things would have to change - and quickly.
I've seen first hand a massive change down at Chasetown's Scholars Ground in the past week. In order to get the capacity up at the ground temporary stands have been erected. I've answered the phone to a TV company in Singapore wanting player crib sheets for their commentators!
But while the national and international media are putting our former mining town in the spotlight, the people of Chasetown are also showing their support in so many ways. The little high street has gone blue and white, the fans queued for tickets at 10.10am (they didn't go on sale until 7pm!) and the good luck messages have come flooding in.
Most of the hard work is done now and I can go back to preparing for the biggest game we've ever seen down the Scholars. Can we beat Oldham? Probably not. But it is the FA Cup and on their day some of our players can turn it on.
In Karl Edwards and Lee Bullimore we have two strikers who, given half-a-chance will put the ball in the net. We have long throw specialists who turn every ball into a set piece. We have the desire and in Charlie Blakemore we have a young manager who will go places.
Now all we need to do is slip a fiver in the direction of lady luck! Up the Scholars!
Many thanks for the article to:
Ross Hawkes
Multimedia Editor
Birmingham Mail Online
www.icbirmingham.co.uk/mail