They may have faced off in the Bostik League North Division less than a week ago but Romford boss Paul Martin believes that contest will have no significance on their Emirates FA Cup first qualifying round meeting with rivals AFC Hornchurch.
It was the Urchins who came out on top in the Essex derby on Bank Holiday Monday, prevailing 4-1 to maintain their 100 per cent start to the season.
But for Martin, the match is much bigger than just a derby and he has reiterated the significance an FA Cup run presents to his club.
He said: “To me, the FA Cup is the pinnacle. You never know who you will get and you get upsets. It’s the World Cup to me and the money, you cannot find that anywhere else.
“I can claw three points back in the league but I cannot claw back a defeat in the FA Cup. The money is hugely important to us.
“I’ll drill that into the players’ heads. I like to put a load of FA Cup highlights on before the match –show them Sutton beating Coventry for example – for them to watch and try and get them to understand that it’s anyone game on the day.”
Meanwhile, AFC Hornchurch boss Jim McFarlane cannot wait to see the rivalry unfold when the two teams meet at Ship Lane on Sunday.
He said: “There’s a football rivalry but I think the real rivalry is the fans – it means so much to them.
“You can see by the message boards in both forums that everyone is excited. It’s not an unhealthy rivalry.
“We’ve won all five of our games so we’ll be going in with plenty of confidence but we’ll be taking nothing for granted.
“I’m a massive fan of the competition. No matter what round, people love it.
“If I had to get them up for it, there would be something wrong. It always has an appeal and has a chance to make some special memories.”
FA Cup history
AFC Hornchurch have reached the first round proper on one occasion since reforming in 2005 – they lost to League One outfit Peterborough United 1-0.
You have to go back to 1881 for Romford’s longest run in the competition – they met Darwen in the quarter-finals but were beaten 15-0.
Their most recet appearance in the first round came in 1976 when they lost to Tooting & Mitcham United 1-0 at home.
Did you know?
AFC Hornchurch once made the FA Cup second round proper in their former guise of Hornchurch FC.
They side beat League Two outfit Northampton Town before losing to Tranmere Rovers in 2004.
The prize
The Emirates FA Cup Second Qualifying Round awaits for the winners of this clash, as does a cheque worth £3,000.
