Six seasons ago Collier took Swindon Supermarine on an FA Cup voyage that began with a 4-0 defeat of Brading Town in front of 82 spectators and culminated with a 1-0 defeat to Colchester United with more than 3000 in attendance in round two.
That run brought 15 minutes of fame to the Supermarine players, who Collier recalls were being followed by camera crews on the way to their day jobs, and gave a sizeable cash injection into the club’s coffers.
Billericay Town v Chippenham Town
The Emirates FA Cup
Third Round Qualifying
3pm, Saturday 1 October 2016
New Lodge
Winners receive £7500 from prize fund
Click here for fixtures
Chippenham travel to Billericay Town on Saturday in the third round qualifying, knowing the chance of similar relative riches is within touching distance.
Collier said: "The adulation that comes with getting to the first round proper is incredible.
"For non-League players it’s a different world, I know the rewards it can bring.
"But I think the most excited people this week have been our chairman and finance director.
"If they have told me once this tie is worth £7,500, then they’ve told me 20 times!
"I understand why - there’s people that work tirelessly to put money into this club, with fundraising, etc.
"So for one game to potentially be worth £7500, that’s a sum that would go a long way at our club."
Opponents Billericay Town will have high hopes of their own of making progress.
On Tuesday night, they recorded a seventh successive victory, and the Blues historically have a strong pedigree in cup competitions having won the Buildbase FA Vase three times.
Collier added: "They have won seven games on the spin, so this is not a fantastic time to be playing them.
"But they are at the same level of the pyramid as us, so we have to feel we can do something.
"It might come down to a bit of luck, the bounce of the ball, a big deflection.
"Luck follows hard work around, so we need to give it everything."
Emirates FA Cup history
Chippenham Town have twice reached the first round, most recently in 2005-06 where they lost 1-0 in a replay to Worcester City in front of a crowd of more than 4,000.
In 2007-08 Billericay Town were denied a first round giant killing of Swansea City, after a brace from Guillem Bauza overturned a half-time deficit. It was one of three occasions Billericay have reached the first round.
Did you know?
Billericay are the second most successful club in FA Vase history, with only Whitley Bay having triumphed more often. They also boast an FA Cup cult hero among their alumni in Roy Essandoh, the star of Wycombe Wanderers’ run to the semi-finals in 2000-01. Among Chippenham’s ex-players is Somerset County Cricket Club all-rounder Peter Trego, once upon a time a goalkeeper at Hardenhuish Park.
One to watch
Chippenham striker Andy Sandell played professionally for Bristol Rovers, Aldershot Town, Wycombe Wanderers and Newport County, predominantly as a left-back. The lethal marksman scored twice in a 9-0 defeat of Moneyfields earlier in the competition.
The prize
A cheque for £7500, as Mark Collier is continually reminded, awaits the winners as well as a spot in fourth round qualifying.
