Hayden Bird is not one for managerial jargon – he is happy to admit that when Oxford United arrive at Merstham for Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup first round tie, it is far more than just another 90 minutes.
Four leagues and 94 places separate Isthmian League Premier Division Merstham from League One Oxford, whose Kassam Stadium seats 4,377 more people than live in the Surrey village.
But for those who have spent a lifetime turning a village club into FA Cup first-rounders, Bird is doing all he can to find a way to win.
Merstham v Oxford United
Emirates FA Cup
First Round
12.30pm, Saturday 5 November 2016
Moatside
Live on BT Sport
By David Bates
His plans so far have seen the Moatsiders past East Preston, Colliers Wood United, Thamesmead Town and Ebbsfleet United and Bird is relishing the next test, being screened live on BT Sport.
“Sometimes as a football manager, you have to realise that the opponent is better than you,” 45-year-old Bird said.
“However, that doesn’t mean you can’t win. From the first round we played, I said to the players that the focus was on the first round proper.
“The secret in that situation is finding a way to win. It should be the impossible result, but as I have been telling the players all week – football makes miracles and this is the FA Cup.
“This is why it’s the best cup competition in the world and while it’s 11 versus 11, there’s a chance that the unthinkable could happen.
“It is going to be great for the players, but the truth is that people like [secretary] Richard Baxter and [youth director] John Devlin – these are the guys that built the club from nothing and it really is their day.
“They have taken this little village club through the county leagues and into the isthmian League and now here we are today, this little village club in the first round of the FA Cup.”
FA Cup history
In 1964, fourth-tier Oxford United reached the sixth round and entertained Preston North End in front of a club-record crowd of 22,750.
The club’s biggest-ever victory also came in the FA Cup, when they beat Dorchester Town 9-1 in November 1995.
This is Merstham’s first-ever appearance in the first round, eclipsing their previous best run to third round qualifying in 2008-09.
Did you know?
England interim manager Gareth Southgate, at the time playing for Crystal Palace, turned out against Merstham in the 1990-91 season as part of the ‘Floodlit Opener’ at the Moatside.
One to watch
Described on the club’s website as “one of the nicest people you could meet in football” hard-working veteran midfielder Tutu Henriques is overdue FA Cup glory, according to boss Hayden Bird.
“Anybody that knows the guys knows that there couldn’t be a more deserving person,” said Bird of Henriques.
“He is now in the twilight of his career, but he continues to be the most important player on the pitch and it is a fantastic opportunity to get to this round of the cup at this stage of his career.”
The prize
First round winners secure £18,000 in prize money and a coveted slot in the second round. Both Oxford United and Merstham will also receive £67,500 for their TV appearance.
