The last time Gary Johnson led a team out in the Emirates FA Cup, they were beaten by goals from Ander Herrera and Angel Di Maria.
But despite having locked horns with Manchester United last season and Liverpool a decade ago during his Yeovil days, the Cheltenham Town boss is not taking this weekend’s fourth round qualifying tie lightly.
That is, in part, down to the fact that hosts Havant & Waterlooville have FA Cup history of their own, having reached the fifth round in 2008 and been rewarded with a trip to Anfield.
Havant & Waterlooville v Cheltenham Town
The Emirates FA Cup
Fourth Round Qualifying
3pm, Saturday 24 October 2015
Westleigh Park, Havant & Waterlooville FC
Winners receive £12,500 from prize fund
By Paddy von Behr
It is also because Johnson – and everyone else at National League high-flyers Cheltenham – knows the value of an FA Cup run.
The Robins have not been knocked out at the fourth round qualifying stage for 20 years and, after meeting Everton and Tottenham in recent editions of the competition, they do not want that to change.
"I have had a little bit of luck in The FA Cup, when I was at Yeovil," said Johnson. "I have had some big games against the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool.
"But we are definitely not going to disrespect Havant. We’re talking about third rounds, Manchester United and Liverpool, but I know how tough some of these games are.
"They will feel they are the underdogs as well, with nothing to lose. We will prepare properly and make sure we don’t leave too much to chance.
"It’s an important competition, that’s for sure. The chairman gave me a little call the other day to make sure I wasn’t going to play a reserve side or something. I said ‘we haven’t got a reserve team!’
"But I knew what he meant and he reminded me, if I needed reminding, that the finances from an FA Cup run can be very handy."
The two clubs have never met before and, on recent form, Cheltenham will be favourites to reach Monday's first round proper draw.
Havant & Waterlooville boss Lee Bradbury is no stranger to The Emirates FA Cup in his career
However, Havant do have home advantage and in manager Lee Bradbury they have a man with some FA Cup pedigree of his own, albeit as a player.
"I scored the winning goal at Leeds when I was at Portsmouth to get a fifth round tie against Chelsea in 1997," said Bradbury. "To play against guys like Gianfranco Zola was pretty special.
"As a club, we have got a good tradition in The FA Cup and getting to Anfield a few years back. We got to first round last year and we were live on BT Sport – we lost but it can put the club on the map. It is a good opportunity for us.
"We have got a major hurdle on Saturday but that’s the magic of The FA Cup – it throws up some interesting games."
And, if he can allow himself, Bradbury is already dreaming of a fairytale tie in the next round.
He added: "We are five miles outside Portsmouth and that would be a fantastic tie if we got to that first round proper – a really good local derby."
