Cup has got the Robins rocking!

By Jon Couch

CHANCE OF A LIFETIME: Bracknell Town’s joint managers Carl Withers and James McClurg, inset

BRACKNELL TOWN v IPSWICH TOWN MONDAY, 7.45 live on ITV4

IT’S been nearly three weeks since FA Cup fever first swept through the dressing room at Bracknell Town – but for bosses Jamie Mc-Clurg and Carl Withers, it’s been business as usual.

While the euphoria of being paired with former winners Ipswich Town has raged on at the Robins’ humble Bottom Meadow home, the joint managers have had to restore calm by keeping their focus and their players’ feet on the ground.

And, in doing so, they’ve got a tune out of their squad too. A ninematch unbeaten run – including 14 goals in the last four games – shows the Robins are bobbing along quite nicely and are ready to welcome the Tractor Boys tomorrow night while at the peak of their powers.

So, how have the former Binfield bosses kept their heads amid such a frenzy, and how do they prepare for the visit of Kieran McKenna’s League One promotion chasers?

Here, McClurg and Withers tell The NLP’s Jon Couch how the mantra has been, quite simply, to keep calm and carry on.

JM: We’ve not done a lot different to be honest. We always give attention to detail in every game we play and although this week has been a bit different with all the excitement and media responsibilities etc, we’ve not altered our preparation. The lads are upbeat and raring to go.

GOOD TIMES: Bracknell Town’s FA Cup run has the town buzzing

CW: It’s been an exciting week, but we’ve had to try to keep things as normal as possible. Ipswich really were the plumb draw for us and the excitement has been building now for three weeks. We’ve had people stopping us in the streets talking about the game and asking about tickets, there’s a real buzz about the town.”

JC: Bracknell are appearing in the first round for only the second time, and first since 2000-01, but what does the FA Cup mean to you personally?

JM: I got to the fourth qualifying round three times as a player but this is the first time I have got to the ‘proper’ rounds. I love the FA Cup, It featured heavily in my childhood, meeting up with family and watching the Arsenal games together. It really is the best competition in the world.

CW: This is a first for me too. I never got to the first round either so a lot of personal records have been broken this season. We took Binfield to the third qualifying round but now we are two steps further on. I used to watch Non-League teams get big ties and always wondered if that would be us one day. Now it is, and it’s a fantastic feeling to be a part of it.

JC: You jointly took Binfield to the FA Vase Final at Wembley in 2020-21. Has that experience of dealing with big-game preparation helped you this week?

CW: It will certainly stand us in good stead, yes. Being at home, it’s obviously a little bit more natural this time around, but in terms of pre-match preparation, like having lunch together in a hotel and dealing with the media, it will help us keep everyone relaxed and keep their focus away from the game for a bit.

JM: The Wembley experience was massive for us and gave us all a valuable insight. We lost on the day so maybe we’ll do things slightly differently this time. As they say, everything happens for a reason.

JC: Does you team’s recent form give you a selection headache for Monday?

CW: It’s a nice headache to have. What we’ve seen is every member of the squad fighting for the shirt and performing to the best of their ability. The levels we are hitting at the moment.Every member of our squad has a part to play, the challenge for us managers is to keep that team spirit and togetherness going beyond Monday.

JM: The lads respect each other and they respect their peers. They know who’s playing well and who deserves a run in the team – they back each other 100 per cent.

JC: Finally, what would be your message to the club as a whole before you walk out at Bottom Meadow on Monday?

CW: Irrespective of the result, the club has won. The FA Cup has put Bracknell Town on the map and for two local lads like us, that makes us so proud.

JM: They say if you surround yourself with good people then good things happen. That’s so true here. I’m delighted for everyone at the club. I played football from the age of 15 to 36 and I never got to experience the first round. It’s a phenomenal achievement and I’m sure the club will embrace it.