Mick aiming to put ‘fizz’ back into the FA Cup

AFC Portchester start out on the FA Cup trail with an extra preliminary round tie against Sandhurst Town at the Crest Finance Stadium tonight (7.45pm).

The visitors, who play a level below the Royals in the Combined Counties League Division One, are known as the 'Fizzers'

Royals manager Mick Catlin is certainly hoping to see his side regain their FA Cup 'fizz' after two disappointing years in the competition.

In the last two seasons his side have been knocked out at the first time of asking by teams from a lower level.

Last season they lost to Hythe and Dibden after a replay and the season before AFC Stoneham, when they were a Wessex Division One side, delivered the knock-out blow.

Catlin is confident he can avoid a hat-trick of FA Cup embarrassments.

'After the last two years there won't be any complacency in our camp,' he remarked.

'We don't want a repeat of the last two years and are fully focused on what we need to do to get through.

'Though we will go into the tie as favourites, we know that we can't take anything for granted.

'There is a lot at stake and every game at the moment will be a tough one.

'It is a competition where if you have a good run you can make the club a bit of money.

'We will be looking to get off to a flyer.

'Starting the season with an FA Cup game is not something that I have experienced before.

'The mentality side doesn't alter because it is equally important to make a winning start.

'We don't know a lot about Sandhurst apart from they have a new manager and their players will be keen to impress.

'From experience we will know that we won't be able to treat them lightly.'

The Royals are regarded by many as the favourites to win the Wessex League Premier Division in 2020/21.

Off the field, the club have made remarkable progress in recent years and have made no secret of their ambition to progress to the Southern League.

During the summer, Catlin has strengthened his squad ready to try and make the next step.

He felt his team were in a useful position last season when covid-19 brought about an early end to the campaign.

Catlin has looked to boost his firepower with the addition of two potent goalscorers.

The prolific Lee Wort has arrived from Sholing along with Alresford Town's Craig Harding, who notched 19 Wessex League Premier goals last season – only Scott Hills (20) of AFC Stoneham netted more

Defensively, the Royals have added two more Alresford players in Luke Dempsey and Liam Hibberd.

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