Mark and John Watters usually spend their days handling bricks and mortar, but Sawbridgeworth Town’s managerial duo are on the cusp of constructing a special Emirates FA Cup run.
The pair of building contractors – Mark the firm owner and John his foreman – have been tasked with re-laying the foundations at Crofters End after a mass exodus of both players and managing staff over the summer.
Sawbridgeworth Town v Tower Hamlets
The Emirates FA Cup
Preliminary Round
3pm, Saturday 20 August
Crofters End
Winning clubs receive £1,925 from prize fund
Click here for fixtures
By Jack Miller
And reaching the first round qualifying would be a momentous achievement in the competition for the Robins; it would mark their furthest ever progress in the FA Cup, having won their first tie in a decade in the previous round on penalties at Southend Manor.
Standing in their way are Essex Senior League rivals Tower Hamlets but, having got the side off to a flying start upon their arrival from Bishop’s Stortford Swifts, John is hopeful that he and his brother can pull off a win with excitement at the club rising all the time.
“It was 10 years since we last won in the FA Cup and Southend were a good side, so it was a great result for us – and a great start for Mark and me,” he said.
“It was a bit strange having our first game managing the team in the FA Cup, but we wanted a positive start and that’s what we got. It means a lot to the club.
“Financially it is massive. We had a big turnaround in the summer losing a lot of people, so the club was on a bit of a downer and we’ve had to completely rebuild three teams.
“But now there is a real buzz going around the place. We’re further than we have been in the FA Cup for a long time, and we’ve got three brand new teams.
“It’s been hectic but we’ve spoken to a few people about Tower Hamlets. They are quite an athletic side so it should be a good contest.
“This would be the furthest we’ve ever been in the competition if we win, which would be something nice for Mark and I to look back on, and there is a nice, pressure-free tie for the winner away to a Ryman Premier club in Harrow Borough as well.”
FA Cup history
The Robins’ previous best performance in the competition was forcing a preliminary round replay in the 2003-04 season, where they were beaten 2-0 away from home by AFC Wallingford.
Up until 2013, Tower Hamlets were known as Bethnal Green United but the club's name was changed by its owners as they wanted the club to represent the whole borough.
In their new guise, they have also not made it past the preliminary round – losing 5-1 in a replay to Cockfosters last season after a 3-3 draw away from home.
Did you know?
The Watters name is etched in the history of Sawbridgeworth with the pair's late father, Don, also taking the helm at Crofters End.
And, after answering chairman Steve Day’s call after former boss Marc Das departed at the end of last season, John is desperate to write their own history at the club.
“Our dad was the manager for about 20 years in two spells, so he is well-known around here and both Mark and I played for Sawbridgeworth as well,” he said.
“It’s a club we love; we’d be down at the club watching the football from about five years-old, and it’s a strange feeling knowing we are following in his path now.
“But it’s a great feeling, and there are still people here now who were around when we were younger. Our dad was a successful manager here, so we want to get the team back to that level.
“If we can be half as successful we’ll be doing really well.”
One to watch
Watters is backing new signing Gavin Cockman to make his mark having followed him from Bishop’s Stortford Swifts over the summer.
The dynamic centre forward finished as top scorer in the Essex Olympian League last term, and has fired Watters to cup glory before when he banged in a hat-trick in last season’s Herts Centenary Trophy final.
“Gavin is a bit lively. He’s a very good player, quick and powerful,” said Watters. “He’s got a lot of ability and now he is definitely one to watch for us.
“He played for us at Bishop’s Stortford Swifts having played for Sawbridgeworth a couple of years before that, but we’ve resigned him for this season.”
The prize
The winner of Sawbridgeworth Town against Tower Hamlets will take home £1,925 and book a clash with Harrow Borough in the first qualifying round.
