Playing in the Emirates FA Cup is special no matter what level and that’s something Margate manager Steven Watt doesn’t need to be reminded about.
At 19, the former defender made his professional debut for Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea when he started their FA Cup third round clash against Scunthorpe United in 2005.
Watt’s affinity with the world’s original cup competition doesn’t stop there however – he helped Swansea defeat then Premier League side Sheffield United before contributing to Maidstone United’s run to the second round proper in 2014.
The Margate boss is now desperate to make more memories in the competition, this time as a manager as his Bostik League Premier Division side prepare to face Kent rivals Herne Bay in third round qualifying.
“The cup means a great deal to me. I made my career debut in the competition in the third round with Chelsea against Scunthorpe. It was my first taste of football,” he said.
“It was a dream come true. When the opportunity came, I didn’t realise I would be starting. I just thought I would be involved and then it was brilliant.
“We didn’t get off to a great start because we went 1-0 down but when you have [Didier] Drogba, [Eidur] Gudjohnsen and players like that on the pitch, you expect to come out OK in the end. It was one of the highlights of my career.
“I had a good cup run at Swansea. We beat Sheffield United, who were in the league above at the time, which was a great day. Then, there’s Maidstone, so I’ve had great experiences of it and you just have to draw on what made you successful in those games.”
Margate come up against a side who also have FA Cup pedigree within their ranks with joint=manager Jermaine Darlington having played for QPR, Watford, Cardiff and AFC Wimbledon in the competition.
The Bay have never made it to the first round proper before but Darlington believes he can use all his expertise to help his men, who ply their trade a division lower than their weekend opponents, cause an upset this weekend.
He said: “I’ve had cup experience before in the League Cup. I made the semi-finals against Liverpool but in the FA Cup, it’s a fantastic day out and its that little bit more prestigious.
“The boys know how big it is and I’ve let them know that they have to grasp the opportunity in the cup because it’s a chance to showcase their abilities, and experience something they might not have again. We’re taking it very seriously and we hope to push on to the next round.
“I think my experience can help. All I can do is pass on my experience to the boys from when I was a player and at the moment, it seems like it’s all getting through.”
Emirates FA Cup history
The two sides have had contrasting fortunes in the Emirates FA Cup, with Margate having enjoyed a rich history.
The Gate made the third round in 1973, where they lost to Tottenham Hotspur 3-0, attracting their largest ever attendance of 14,500.
Meanwhile, the Bay have made fourth round qualifying on two occasions, in 1971 and 1987.
Did you know?
Herne Bay’s record attendance came against Margate in the FA Cup in 1971 when they lost in the fourth qualifying round, around 2,300 fans packing into Winch’s Field for the occasion.
The Prize
The winner at Hartsdown Park will earn £12,500 and earn a place in the fourth qualifying round.
