With the likes of Jermaine Pennant, Jamie O’Hara and Paul Konchesky on the payroll, Billericay Town have become the most talked about club in non-league football.
But on Sunday, Thamesmead Town hope to steal the limelight and dump them out of the Emirates FA Cup.
The two sides meet in the second round qualifying at Princes Park, the ground Thamesmead share with Dartford, and the Essex heavyweights are the favourites to progress.
In Pennant they have a Champions League finalist, while O’Hara has played in the Cup Final itself – starting for Portsmouth against Chelsea in 2010, a game the Blues won 1-0.
But Thamesmead have wind in their sails following a tumultuous 12 months which saw them move out of their Bayliss Avenue home, and manager Tommy Warrilow hopes his side produce the shock of the round.
“We have prepared the best we can. The publicity around the game has been second to none,” he said.
“I am all for what they have done and it has helped us all out because we have had a lot of interest and we want to get some publicity for the club.
“Now the task is to get a result on the day against the most talked about club in non-league football.
“It is not just the players, I call them the limelight players they have made. Take out the former professionals and they still have a very good side.
“They are playing non-league football and one thing I was taught was the lower you go the harder it gets.
“The players at this level will make a few clumsy challenges and harass them. Higher up the leagues, you get more time on the ball but you don’t get that at this level.
“It is going to be harder for them because of the reputation they have. I think we will play a back ten and hit them on the counter-attack.”
FA Cup history?
This is the fifth time Thamesmead have reached second round qualifying, but they have never gone any further.
In contrast, Billericay have made the first round proper on three occasions – the last of which came in the 2007-8 season.
Did you know?
Thamesmead have Football League pedigree of their own, with Rowan Liburd in the ranks. The striker has previously played for Reading, Stevenage and Leyton Orient.
The Prize
The winners of Saturday’s tie, who will progress to third round qualifying, will net £4,500 in prize money.
