John Askey is hoping to create some more magic memories for Macclesfield fans this weekend – and he wants to town to turn out and share them.
The Silkmen have already caused a stir with the shock of round one, dumping League One Swindon Town out in a 4-0 thrashing, and now only Skrill North team Brackley Town stand between Macc and a chance to rub shoulders with the Premier League giants.
A third-round pay-day wouldn’t be mere bonus for the cash crisis-hit club though – it’s virtually a necessity if they are to stave off the threat of going bust.
And, since Brackley – with one defeat all season – will be no pushovers, Askey is calling on those fans who perhaps haven’t been down to experience the matchday atmosphere at the Moss recently to come along and back Macc.
“Brackley are very well organised, they’ve got a big budget and they have players who’ve been in higher leagues,” said the manager. “They don’t concede many, they only let in one in two games against Gillingham (who the Saints beat to set up the second-round tie) so we know they’ll be tough opposition.
“But whoever we play, when we’re at home we’ll have a big advantage. We’ll go into the tie with confidence in our own ability to come out victorious.”
Macc supporters have enjoyed some great FA Cup days in recent years – facing the likes of Chelsea, Everton, Bolton and Wigan – and Askey himself harbours a soft spot for the competition and hopes that the draw in round three will be kind – providing they make it into the velvet bag.
“The FA Cup catches everybody’s imagination, it’s very special,” he said. “I’d love to see people coming down, especially those who’ve not been down for a few years, to see if we can get through. Those that have been coming to watch have been enjoying it and if people do start to come down again it’s up to us to get them wanting to keep coming back.
“Drawing Man United is the obvious one that all smaller teams want but I’d love to go to Arsenal, it’s a place I haven’t been to. But there are no guarantees that we’ll get a draw like that; whoever’s in the draw could just as easily get another lower-league team.
“We’ll just try to progress as far as we can, we’re a young team and we’re ambitious. We’ve got everyone fit and wanting to play on Saturday, and we’re all looking forward to it.”
The visitors will have one of Askey’s old proteges, and a summer target of his, in the ranks – Izak Reid – as well as former striker Ben Mills.
“I tried to sign Izak in the summer,” he revealed. “But we couldn’t match what Brackley were paying, they’ve obviously got a lot of money behind them.
“I’ve known him since he was 15, he’s got a lot of pace and he’s a very good player.
“And Ben hasn’t been getting in their team, he’s been on the bench most of the time so that shows how strong they are too.”
