GUTTEDBUTPROUD
WHEN the nation’s top teams enter the FA Cup in the new year, chances are they will take the opportunity to rest some of their star players. Unlike the old days, the FA Cup is way behind the Champions League and Premier League in importance for the elite. But for humble Non-League teams, it appears just as precious as ever. For the smaller clubs, the dream is to get to the first round and land a plum tie. For the bigger ones, there’s the tantalising thought of reaching round three and taking on one of the country’s fat-cats. Hanwell would have been ecstatic if they could have reached the first round proper for the first time in their history. “The competition is prestigious and we all dream of doing well in it,” said co-boss Chris Moore. “As a Non-League player, and now as a Non-League manager, I always dreamed of just getting to that First Round, being in the draw and seeing my team on Match of the Day. It wasn’t to be this year, maybe next year.” Nonetheless, it was still a cup run to remember for Hanwell. They beat two sides from a higher level – Potters Bar Town and Lowestoft Town – and banked almost £18,000 in prize money before crashing out on penalties against Leatherhead. Moore, who manages the side in partnership with Wayne Carter, said: “I’m not going to stand here and pretend it’s not heartbreaking. We’re gutted, everyone’s gutted – it’s the FA Cup – but the boys shouldn’t underestimate how well they’ve done. “It’s what I said to them on the pitch at the end of the game after the penalties - ‘Don’t be down, don’t be downbeat because we’ve equalled the club’s record in this competition and we’ve beaten two sides in the league above us. Be proud of yourselves – myself and Carts are proud of what you’ve done’.” Moore and Carter are in their first season at the Hanwell helm and the former believes there is no reason why his troops shouldn’t be looking upwards. “It’s about the group and we’ve got the group right” said the 38-year-old. “They are all capable of playing higher. “Sometimes you can beat a higher league team and it’s a one-off, but they’ve consistently beaten and outplayed higher league teams.” As they return to reality, the prize money and profile the Cup has given them is a much-needed boost. Moore added: “The £18,000 in prize money is fantastic for the club and the chairman (Bob Fisher) hasn’t stopped smiling. “He said it’s the biggest crowd (366) they’ve had for a competitive game since they’ve been here, so that in itself and the prize money is fantastic.”