Chatham Town Women will be looking for a place in Round Four of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup for the first time since their move across the Medway Towns on Sunday when they travel to face Sutton United Women in Round Three. 

It’s the fourth away tie on the trot for Keith Boanas’s side, and the Chats will travel in good spirits after a 6-0 win at Beaconsfield Town in the final qualifying round before two acts of giant killing against AFC Wimbledon Women and Exeter City Women – both of whom play in the National League South – the League that the Chats are trying to return to after relegation eighteen months ago. 

Come Sunday however and the Chats will be “the giant” to slay as Sutton play in the division below and that certainly wasn’t lost on Boanas when we caught up with him before what could be an historic weekend. 

“It’s the biggest game of the season,” he admitted to KSN, “The kudos that comes with this fixture is way beyond what some of our younger players will ever have encountered before!”

“We have some players who have been past this stage, will be well aware of what it is.” 

“For me the difference is oceans apart from when I was lucky enough to win the competition,” Boanas went on recalling how he led Charlton Athletic to lift the Trophy back in 2005.

“The financial incentives are massive – we got just over £5,000 for winning it – it’s changed and increased so much!” 

For the record the winners of Sunday’s tie at Gander Green Lane will receive £35,000 alone which is nearly double what the Chats have won to get this far. 

“The financial rewards to a Club like ours are also integral to our own ambitions of regaining Tier 3 status soon and it will also help thank and repay the Chairman (Kevin Hake) and the board for their support and belief in the women’s game.”

“The Chairman has recently quoted it epitomises the ethos, philosophy and pride of Chatham Town as a leading player and positive example of unity, inclusivity and equality in the local community and surrounding area.” 

“We are and should all be very proud of our club, here is hoping for double success this weekend (the Chats men’s team play Plymouth Parkway at the Bauvill on Saturday in the Isuzu FA Trophy) leading us into the Christmas period with a smile and with all the dreams still intact.”  

Sutton play in the division below the Chats and Boanas said, “We were in their shoes for the last two rounds, we have come through the last two rounds beating teams above us both on a penalty shootout.”

“We now face a one division lower opponent in Sutton United who have had their own Giant killing moments. We cannot and will not take them lightly as the carrot at the end of this game would be an historical fourth round tie potentially against a WSL2 or WSL1 professional club.”

“It is a massive carrot for all the forty sides playing in the cup this weekend…” 

Sutton United Women vs Chatham Town Women will be played at Sutton United’s ground at Gander Green Lane on Sunday with a 2.30pm kick off.

KSN will be there and have a report and reaction on Monday.