Senior sides across West Norfolk set out on the FA Cup trail this weekend, looking to create their own magic in the UK’s most famous domestic competition.
There is the small matter of a first-ever home tie for Heacham as the Magpies host higher-league opposition in Newmarket at Station Road.
Fakenham Town are also in home cup action as they also welcome Step 4 opposition in Wroxham to the Daly Group Stadium, while Downham Town kick-off their campaign with a trip to league rivals Mildenhall Town.
Looking ahead to the clash against the Isthmian League North Jockeys, Heacham boss Paul Hunt said: “You can see the work that the people behind the scenes here have done on the pitch and the stuff around the pitch.
“They’ve done a great job, so it’s got a nice feel to it and everyone looks forward to a game in the FA Cup.
“It will be special, especially for the supporters and all the volunteers here, as well as the players.”
The Magpies’ boss is well aware of the advantages and exposure that a cup shock can bring.
Back in 2013, Hunt was boss of Swaffham Town when they accounted for higher-league opposition in the shape of Wisbech Town in what was the Pedlars’ first-ever game in the competition.
The win led to a slot on Robbie Savage’s show on Five Live, the same evening as minnows Swaffham basked in the glory.
“It was great,” admitted Hunt.
“That was a fantastic day and hopefully we can have one of those on Saturday.”
Ghosts’ assistant boss Stephen Harvey is also relishing the prospect of his side testing themselves against a higher team in the non-league pyramid.
Harvey said: “We’ve got higher opposition in Wroxham and they are a decent team.
“One thing that hopefully we’ll enjoy and they’ll enjoy is that they like to play football, as do we.
“It should be a good spectacle for those who come and watch on Saturday. We’ve found in the last few years, even with the FA Vase, those FA competitions do mean a lot to the people in the local area.
“You want two or three good wins and then you get a really big draw for the town. That’s why I enjoyed playing football back in the day and I’m sure the lads would relish that opportunity.”
Downham Town have yet to kick a ball in anger with their league season not starting until next weekend.
Town boss Dale Stokes said: “I’m looking forward to getting started again after a memorable campaign last season.
“It doesn’t feel like we’ve had much of a break, to be honest, with the play-off final being in May, but at least it’s a week later starting than we are used to in the Thurlow Nunn.
“I’m not sure if it’s a good thing having our first game as an FA Cup fixture, but at least with it being Mildenhall, we will get a bit of a taste for what to expect in the coming season, as they’re obviously in our league.
“We would of course love to get off to a positive start but looking at the bigger picture, we have more to focus on than the FA Cup.”
