FA Cup preview: Gainsborough Trinity boss Russ Wilcox aims to gain a new scalp

By Matt Badcock

Russ Wilcox’s Gainsborough Trinity are back on the FA Cup bandwagon – and the wily boss says they’ll keep leaning on last year’s giant-killing experiences.

The NPL Premier outfit reached round two in 2024-25, where their epic run was eventually ended by League Two Harrogate Town.

Wilcox’s side beat higher league Darlington and Step 1 Boston United along the way before also claiming the scalps of Rushall Olympic, Chester and York City in the Isuzu FA Trophy.

The former Scunthorpe United boss knows they’ve got another huge task on their hands, however, as they get set to welcome Hartlepool United in the fourth round qualifying.

Challenge

“All you can ask for is a home draw,” Wilcox, whose side saw off Dunston in the last round, told The NLP.

“Hartlepool are a big club with an experienced manager, Simon Grayson. I know him well, and I played with his number two, Neil McDonald, at Preston.

“So it will be a challenge. They had the best defensive record in the National League up until the other night, so it’s going to be really tough.

“For us, it’s roles revered. The pressure was on us at Corby, the pressure was on us at Dunston. The pressure is off us now, really.

“We’re not expected to win, but we beat York last year, we beat Boston, so you never know. It’s cup football.”

Consistent

They felt the benefits of it last term, including a crazy first-round tie against Hednesford Town that finished 4-4 before an epic shoot-out.

“This is our 11th FA Cup game in the last two seasons and, at this moment in time, we’ve only lost one – and that was against League Two Harrogate,” Wilcox said.

“We’ve had a good couple of years. The revenue you get really helps the club.”

The Holy Blues have started their league campaign well too, sitting fourth place in the table ahead of yesterday’s FA Trophy break.

“We’re delighted,” Wilcox, above, added. “Nineteen points from ten games is nearly two per game, so if we can maintain that, we will be in the top five.

“It’s difficult to do, but with a quarter of the season gone, we’re delighted with the start.

“I think last season we had 11 points from 11 games, so it was a poor start, and then we kicked on, but we missed out on the play-offs by four points. If we’d had a better start, we could have been in that mix.

“We won our last four games, but it wasn’t enough, and that shows how important that start is.

“Usually, the league doesn’t change that much. A couple will kick on and a couple drop out, but usually it’s very consistent, and hopefully that remains the same with us.

“We are punching above our weight, but we just get on with it, stay humble when we win and move onto the next game.”