FA CUP: 'It will be an epic occasion,' says Burgess Hill Chairman Kevin Newell

If Ian Chapman’s side beat Dartford in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup, it will be the first time the club have reached the first round proper.

And both Newell and Chapman believe there is a chance of victory - and at the same time pick up £12,500 in prize money which would prove vital funds for the club.

Newell told Middy Sport: “In non-league football terms, when you get to the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup, the excitement is palpable.

“We are extremely excited. We are playing at the highest level the club has ever played at and it’s been hard to play at this level.

“We haven’t got a history like Dulwich Hamlet or Tonbridge Angels or clubs that have been there and done it. We have come up through the County League, though Division 1 South and now we are in the Premier Division of the Bostik League but it’s hard craft to get the right momentum for this, finances for this is critical.

“This is the fourth or fifth time we have been to the fourth qualifying round and every time it’s been major and we have never gone beyond this.” And how highly does Newel rate this in terms of biggest games for Burgess Hill Town.

He said: “How big a game is it? I have to say in my time it’s one of the biggest games we have ever had and I hope that notwithstanding last Saturday we will be well backed the fans we have got, who have been magnificent.

“You can’t underestimate the impact that has. There was 474 there on Saturday - tremendous. I was absolutely gutted the team’s performance didn’t thrill them to the extent we could could have done.

“We weren’t five better than Kingstonian on Tuesday and we weren’t five worse than Lowestoft on Saturday, however that is the headline figure and we have to live with it.

“If the fans turn up, and I hope they will on Saturday, it will be an epic occasion. I can’t put it any stronger than that.”