AFC Fylde boss Dave Challinor hoping FA Cup run can boost the club

By Matt Badcock
AFC FYLDE have been making waves in Non-League football in recent seasons – and boss Dave Challinor knows FA Cup primetime is the perfect chance to showcase what they’re all about to the wider footballing public.
The Lancashire club have powered their way up the Pyramid and are just one step away from completing the target stitched onto their shirt sleeves of reaching the Football League by 2022.
On Friday night, the BBC cameras will be at their Mill Farm home hoping to witness a second round upset as the Coasters take on League One side Wigan Athletic.
And boss Challinor wants his players to show off their talent.
“They’re great games,” Challinor said. “It’s the one competition you have each season to test yourselves against Football League teams.
“You’ve got to cherish them when they come about, but ultimately it’s about performing and showing what you can do.
“It’s a big opportunity for everyone. Not just the club and its profile, but all the individual players and a group to really show we’re doing something right.
“We had a BT game earlier in the season, which was great. Now to have a BBC game in the FA Cup, it can really increase the profile even more.
“Last year showed that. It certainly put Sutton United on the map and showed what they’re doing and it reinvigorated Lincoln – an ex-Football League club that had lost its way a little bit. It rejuvenated the place and their league form really built as a result of that. People got behind them.”

Fylde’s Tuesday night National League game against Guiseley was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. It means Jack Muldoon will still be suspended for the Wigan game, but it did allow boss Challinor the chance to watch their opponents in person.
While the spotlight will shine bright, the former Colwyn Bay boss feels the experience of playing in front of the live BT Sport cameras earlier in the National League season will help.
“Higher up, the way the game is, you become accustomed to higher -profile games,” Challinor said. “It’s the same if you’re turning up to a ground to play in front of 25,000 people. When you’re not accustomed to it and when it doesn’t often happen, it is a new experience and sometimes people react differently.
“So there’s always that question mark on the reason why players aren’t playing as high as their ability shows. But these are the sort of games and occasions where if you’re going to be a footballer at a higher level, you go and express yourself and take what’s in front of you in your stride.
“Fingers crossed we can do that – I certainly think they can and think a lot of them have the ability to play higher. They’ll be waiting on an opportunity and the game on Friday is a chance to maybe answer any questions people might have about them.”
*This article originally featured in The @NonLeaguePaper, which is available every Sunday.