AFC Stoneham 100 year anniversary has been made all the more sweater by a brilliant FA Cup run.
The Eastleigh based side, who have already defeated higher division sides in the form of AFC Portchester and Westfield, go into tomorrow’s match with Cirencester Town hoping to continue their cup adventure.
“It has been absolutely brilliant so far!” AFC Stoneham Chairman Mark Stupple told The NLP.
“The run has really galvanized the local community and got people talking about the club, which is a fantastic thing.
“I am so proud of the players for putting in such great performances in the previous rounds to beat teams who play at a much higher level than us.”
Stupple admits that the club’s FA Cup run has already provided a decisive cash injection to the club after the FA doubled the competition’s prize money this season.
“The money that we have received from the FA has been massive for us and has really helped us to be able to maintain the great work that everybody is doing at the club.
“We can’t take anything for granted however and we know that we are in for a really tough test on Saturday” said the AFC Stoneham Chairman.
The Purples will face higher level opponents again this weekend in the form of Southern League Division One South side Cirencester Town but Stupple is hopeful that the contest will produce an exciting match.
“We have had a real slice of luck because this is the third tie in a row that we have been drawn at home.
“As there are no Premier League games this weekend we are hoping that we will be able to attract some more fans and that it will be a really nice occasion.
“Irrespective of the result tomorrow we have been on a fantastic journey in this year’s FA Cup and the prize money we have received has proved invaluable.”