Chatham manager Kevin Hake is a former season ticket holder at Old Trafford, so knows all about Mark Hughes’ history with Manchester United.
But the thrill of meeting Hughes tomorrow won’t deflect him from the job in hand – outsmarting Sparky in the FA Trophy.
Hake leads a Chatham Town side into the fourth round for the first time in the club’s history, and believes it’s a great advert for non-league football.
“Here we are three levels below the opposition who lead the National League. This is exactly what non-league football is about — a Saturday afternoon cup tie, good opposition, and a chance to come together as a club and town,” he says.
“They’re a strong side who need no introduction. They are top of the National League and managed by Mark Hughes – say no more really!”
The Chats go into the game on the back of a brilliant win in the Isthmian League’s Premier Division last week when they went to runaway leaders Folkestone and won 2-1. They stayed third in the table some 14 points behind the leaders, but with two games in hand.
League issues are forgotten tomorrow for what Chatham hope will be a memorable occasion in front of a capacity 5,000 crowd at the Bauvill Stadium .
Carlisle were given an initial allocation of 300 tickets for the match. Chatham are selling tickets on a first-come-first-served basis and say there is no guarantee they will be available on the day.
