The Emirates FA Cup has helped shape the career of Sam Wedgbury and provided him with some of the greatest moments in his life.
And the Forest Green Rovers midfielder is hoping Saturday’s tie at Margate – in front of the BT Sport cameras – will be the beginning of yet another memorable run in the world’s oldest football competition.
Wedgbury’s first appearance in senior football came as a 16-year-old in the FA Cup in 2005 when he scored on his debut for Worcester City in their 7-0 win against Bemerton Heath Harlequins.
Margate v Forest Green Rovers
Emirates FA Cup fourth round qualifying
12.30pm, Saturday 24 October
Hartsdown Park, Margate
Live on BT Sport
Winners receive £12,500
The then National League North side reached the second round proper that year and Wedgbury’s performances in the competition helped him earn a five-figure move to Sheffield United.
He then starred in the Macclesfield team which exited at the fourth round stage in 2013 after giving eventual winners Wigan Athletic a fright and beating Cardiff City and Swindon Town, despite being a National League club at the time.
“The FA Cup is a really special competition for me,” Wedgbury said ahead of the National League leaders’ fourth qualifying round tie away at Margate, which will kick-off at 12.30pm, live on BT Sport.
“I would say my Worcester debut and reaching the fourth round with Macclesfield have probably been my career highlights so far, so the FA Cup is a competition that has been really good to me.
Both sides will be vying for a place in the first round draw on Monday evening
“Apart from the length of the journey to Margate, we are quite happy with the draw and think it is certainly a winnable game for us.
“It is live on TV as well, so we are looking forward to showing what we are about.”
Standing in Rovers’ way will be Margate goalkeeper Nikki Bull, who was an integral part of the Aldershot Town team which rose into the Football League and then latterly at Wycombe Wanderers, where he also secured promotion into League One.
In November 2012 Bull decided to take time out of the game for personal and football reasons, but returned after 15 months when he received a call from his former Aldershot Town boss Terry Brown a few months after he had taken over at Margate.
In Bull’s first full season he won the Players’ Player of the Season award as Gate were promoted into National League South via the play-offs.
And although Bull believes his side have “let ourselves down badly” so far this season, with the team 17th, the 34-year-old is hoping the tie with Forest Green will help turn their campaign around.
“I’m hoping we can cause a small upset against Forest Green as I’m due a good run in the FA Cup”
Nikki Bull Margate
The former Queens Park Rangers and Brentford goalkeeper has had an almost polar opposite experience in the FA Cup compared to Wedgbury so far in his career.
Bull said: “I have never had a good run in the FA Cup. Come to think of it, my record in the competition is pretty appalling.
"Even when I was at Wycombe in League One, we were turned over by Fleetwood when they were in the National League so I have been on the receiving end of a few shocks and never had any of my own.
“So I’m hoping we can cause a small upset against Forest Green as I’m due a good run in the FA Cup.
“Bob (Laslett) at Margate has put a lot of money into the club and he knows he is not going to make money out of it, but he is a local man who wants to see Margate get into the Football League and wants to put the club on the map, and having an FA Cup game on the television is a way of doing that.
“More than anything Saturday is about Bob for me and days like this are the reason why he put his money into the club so I hope it is a good day for him.”
