The Mighty Rovers – fifth from bottom last year, currently sit fifth in the Southern League Division One Central table – have not won a game in this competition since the 2011-12 season.
For a team that made the third round back in 2001 that is a disappointing record and in facing a Herne Bay side two leagues below them they are confident of ending the barren run.
Barton Rovers v Herne Bay
The Buildbase FA Trophy
Preliminary Round
3pm, Saturday 8 October 2016
Sharpenhoe Road
Click here for fixtures
By Charlie Talbot-Smith
And Gray – who has made an immediate impact at the helm since moving from St. Albans in the summer – knows the value of a good cup run.
"We have found some form and are unbeaten in eight, hopefully we can now take that form in the cups," he said.
"We have a good home record at the moment and we will look to progress into the cups as well.
"We haven’t won a game in this competition for a while and we are working hard to try and change that.
"We won a couple of rounds in The FA Cup and we are hoping that for The Trophy we can play at that same level.
"The Trophy and the cups in general are great for helping the club’s financial situation, any extra money is a big boost for clubs at this level.
"I didn’t know too much about Herne Bay but I have spoken to my friend Dean [Brennan] who is manager at Hemel Hempstead.
"Herne took them to a replay so we know that they will be no pushovers.
"But if we can keep playing like we have been for the last two or three weeks then hopefully we can do the job."
After a season spent narrowly beating the drop last season, Mighty Rovers are back in full swing this season and Gray admits a lot of that is down to the sweeping changes he has made to the personnel.
"We lost our first two games of the season but I only took over in the summer and there was a lot of change," he added.
"When I came from St. Albans I brought a few contacts of mine over. I think only three or four players out of the 20 or so from last season are still here.
"So there has been a big change but one that was needed – they were fifth from bottom last year and now we have found some form and momentum, hopefully that can continue."
Buildbase FA Trophy history
Barton Rovers reached the third round in 2000-01 but since then have not made it past the qualifying stages. In fact they have not won a match in this competition in the last four seasons, although they did take AFC Sudbury to a replay last term. Herne Bay have a fine record in their short history in this competition, they made it to second round qualifying last season with victories over Witham Town and Walton Casuals.
Did you know?
Barton Rovers have made it to Wembley before, they lost to Blue Star in the final of the 1977-78 FA Vase at the old home of English football. Their record home attendance of 1,900 came in an FA Cup fourth round qualifying clash with Nuneaton Borough back in 1976.
One to watch
Connor Calcutt only joined the Mighty Rovers at the back end of August but the former Stevenage striker has already established himself as a firm fans’ favourite. He bagged a hat-trick against Hanwell in the league last month and also a double in The Emirates FA Cup win over Royston to sit top of the goal-scoring charts at Sharpenhoe Road.
The prize
A cheque for £2,500 awaits the winners as well as a spot in first round qualifying.
