FLOOD WARNING!
Slough Town are looking to upset Rochdale in front of the TV cameras tomorrow
CHRIS FLOOD has caught a serious dose of FA Cup fever – and he’s not interested in finding a cure!
The Slough Town striker is hoping to make League One Rochdale sweat tomorrow night when they travel to the 2,000-capacity Arbour Stadium for an eagerly-awaited second round clash.
Flood, 28, cannot wait to display his skills for the EvoStik Southern Premier high-flyers in front of a live TV audience with the game being screened by BT Sport 1. And with 13 goals to his credit this term, the powerful hitman is ready to showcase his goalscoring talents.
Triumph
“I have always set targets and feel I am on course for 25 this season, if not 30 – that’s the plan,” said the former Basingstoke Town hitman.
“The way we play suits my game. We are playing with a lot of confidence and riding high in the league with promotion the aim.
“But for the moment we are focused on the FA Cup and to be live on TV in such a famous competition is brilliant. We do not want the run to end and are desperate to kick on.”
There may be four levels and 81 places separating the sides before kick-off but on a tight ground and a 3G pitch, visiting boss Keith Hill knows his Dale side will have to be on their mettle if they are to avoid a cup upset against a side who smashed National League North side Gainsborough Trinity 6-0 on the road in the last round.
The Rebels’ big day represents something of a personal triumph for Flood, who once commanded a £10,000 fee when joining Crawley Town from Salisbury in July 2010, but considered taking a year out of the game after a disappointing spell and subsequent exit from Eastleigh in 2013-14.
But on being persuaded to join Winchester City in the Sydenhams Wessex League, Flood re-discovered his appetite for the game and a move to Basingstoke Town followed where he enjoyed two goal-laden seasons at the Camrose after making the decision to go full-time.
A move to Gosport Borough was short-lived so Flood made the switch to Slough last December and hasn’t looked back since, netting 25 goals in 46 appearances for Jon Underwood and Neil Baker’s men.
It’s little wonder he feels at home as three of his ex-Basingstoke team-mates – Nathan Smart, Simon Dunn and Manny Williams – are on board.
“It was an easy decision to come here as I could see Slough’s vision,” said Flood.
As someone who works for adidas golf, Flood is aiming to be on the fairway to the stars with the heady prospect of Premier League opposition in the third round.