Hanwell want FA Cup progress to mark chairman's 60th year

Hanwell Town have already made history by getting to the Emirates FA Cup third round qualifying but manager Phil Granville is confident his side can spring another surprise this weekend against Grays Athletic.

Granville’s side – who currently sit 17th in the Southern League Division One Central table – welcome higher league opposition to Reynolds Field for the first time this season. 

This is a big year for the Geordies with manager Granville in his first season in charge while chairman Bob Fisher celebrates his 60th year of involvement at the club. 

And Granville – who joined from Harefield over the summer – is adamant his side can make it a double celebration this weekend. 

“This is the first time in the club’s history that we have been this far, there will be a great atmosphere on the weekend and to be fair there is a good buzz around the club just at the moment any way,” he said. 

“We are obviously the underdogs, Grays are a good side with a good history, a good budget and some good attacking players. 

“We are going to go out there and try and cause an upset, we will have to put everyone behind the ball, try and stop them from playing and see what happens on the day – I fancy us to surprise them and run them close. 

“We have been very fortunate with the draw up to now, the two teams we have played so far have been from leagues below us. 

“With it being the chairman’s 60th year – what an achievement that is for Bob Fisher – and this is a great celebration of everything he has done. If we can get the win this weekend that would be even better.”

Grays are led by player-manager Mark Bentley – the former Southend and Gillingham midfielder took over at Christmas last year. 

And while this is the first management spell for the 37-year-old – he certainly has no shortage of Emirates FA Cup experience having been part of the Gills side that were narrowly beaten by Aston Villa in the third round proper back in 2009.

Mark Bentley during his Gillingham days

And Bentley has backed his players to embrace the favourites tag and see off their lower league opponents.  

“It’s a potential banana skin for us, you see it every year in the Cup – underdogs coming out on top,” he said. 

“We have to be aware of that and do a good professional job. In the previous two rounds we were against sides from below us and we won 5-0 and 6-0. 

“We need to approach it with that same level of respect towards the opposition.

“It’s a big day for them, but it’s a big day for us as well. If we win we get money for the club, money that goes towards my budget and pays the wages for another week. 

“We have got ambition here, we want to reach the first round proper. 

“It’s going to be difficult but strangely, we are delighted with the away draw.

"We like to get the ball down and play football and Hanwell have got a nice set-up over there, their pitch is decent. We are sharing our ground with Aveley and it can be a bit of a leveller when we try and play.”