FA Trophy runner-up Kevin Nicholson wants his players to experience the thrill of playing at Wembley Stadium as Torquay United prepare for their third round tie against Macclesfield Town.
Player-manager Nicholson, 35, has guided Torquay to the last 16 of the competition he came agonisingly close to winning himself in 2008 when he was part of a Gulls side that lost out to Ebbsfleet United in The Final.
Although he was unsuccessful on the day, Nicholson regards the time he played at the home of English football as one of his career highlights, and he wants his players to create those same memories by getting all the way to this year’s Final.
Torquay United v Macclesfield Town
The FA Trophy
Third Round
7.45pm, Tuesday 9 February
Plainmoor, Torquay United FC
Winning club will receive £7,000
by David Marsh
He said: “The best way to look at it is that we are three games away from going to Wembley. If we get through against Macclesfield we’re in the quarter final.
“I was fortunate enough to play at Wembley and it’s a great experience to play at a stadium like that in front of thousands of people.
“I want the same for my lads.”
Torquay came up against familiar opponents Wrexham, the team who knocked them out at the semi-final stage last year, in the second round.
Nicholson’s side had also failed to beat Wrexham on both occasions they had faced them in the league this season.
But in a tightly-fought game, Torquay got the better of Wrexham this time around, running out 1-0 victors thanks to a late goal from Shepherd Murombedzi.
Torquay’s options were limited for the clash with several new signings ineligible to play, yet they picked up their sole victory since Boxing Day.
North Ferriby United beat Wrexham in last season's FA Trophy Final
Nicholson said: “We had quite a few players cup tied so we had to form a specific game plan with the players we had.
“We had a chance to gain momentum going into February, so thankfully we got the win.”
Despite Torquay’s promising cup form, Nicholson acknowledges that Macclesfield will provide a stern test for his players.
But he is relieved to have got the luck of the draw and been given the chance to play at Plainmoor.
He added: “Macclesfield are a very solid National League team, they’re very experienced and well organised. But we have got them at home.
“It’s more a case of concentrating on our own game rather than what their game plan might be.
“I really do not want a replay, so we need to express ourselves and we’ll be going for the jugular.”
