Maltby Main joint manager Spencer Fearn
Spencer Fearn believes his Maltby Main players can be proud of their efforts in the FA competitions this season – not that the adventure is over just yet.
Joint managers Fearn and Mark Askwith guided Maltby to the first qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup in September and are now set to lead their side in an FA Vase second round tie.
The Main are away at Northern League side Seaham Red Star and Fearn admits that their cup runs have been a huge boost.
History awaits if Maltby can pull off a memorable victory.
Fearn told Non League Yorkshire: “The players deserve an enormous amount of credit for this (cup runs), they have bought into what we do in terms of preparation and stuck to a plan.
“We like being the underdogs and we will be the same again on Saturday. No-one is expecting us to go to Seaham and get a result so the pressure is on them.
“The cup exploits have given us a much needed boost in terms of our reputation and also swelled the club coffers a bit, so our Chairman is happy.
“To go on the road as much as we have done and beat some very good sides is testament to the whole club. It is not just about the coaching staff and players, but good people like Wilf Race, Martin Hawley and John Mills who put in a tremendous amount of work off the field.
“It is a big game for the club. We have only reached the 3rd round of the F.A Vase once in our 100 year history, so will be hoping to equal a club record.
“We go into every game with confidence and expect to get something out of it, however, we know that Seaham will be a very good side as are all the clubs that play in the top tier of the Northern League.
“We need to be at our very best on Saturday if we are to progress.”
Fearn and Askwith have been at the helm of Maltby since last May and their side currently sit in 16th place, but do have the luxury of games in hand.
The pair remain committed to their initial aim for the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division campaign.
Fearn added: “At the start of the season we were aiming for mid table and hopefully we will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.
“We have a backlog of games due to the cup runs and are still in the League Cup and Sheffield and Hallamshire Cup. So, it has been key that we have had a squad of 20/21 players throughout.
“We are realistic about our prospects and Mark and I are new to the NCEL, so we have learnt a hell of a lot in the first part of the season.
“We cannot compete with many teams in terms of budget and we do thorough research into who we approach to join our group.
“The lads aren’t going to retire on the money we pay, so we are after lads who have the desire and hunger to play and enjoy their football, what they get paid is very much secondary to the squad we have.”
Jamie Bailey will play in goal for Maltby as Danny Rusling is on trial at Port Vale. Maltby also signed a new player in Lee Hill earlier this week.