A trip to The Valley to face League One side Charlton Athletic awaits Cray Valley PM in the First Round of the FA Cup and manager Steve McKimm can’t wait!
How about a trip to your nearest League side just four miles away who have won the competition and been in the top flight of English football?
Well for Steve McKimm and everyone involved with Cray Valley PM that is exactly what they are facing for after beating Carshalton Athletic and Enfield Town in the last fortnight.
Sunday’s draw for the FA Cup first round has handed them a potential massive pay day and a trip to the Valley to face Charlton Athletic.
We allowed everything to sink in before we spoke to McKimm who told us, “Saturday was good and the boys are delighted with the result and were looking forward to the draw, and when it came out, the phone was pinging left right and centre. We are all over the moon, the players, the staff, everyone at the club!”
“I’ve got a lot of things to think about and worry about before we get to the Valley so if it’s a case it has to go on the backburner then so bit it as we’ve got important games to play before then!”
McKimm who was interviewed by ITV following the win at the weekend admitted, “I didn’t know they were coming; they spoke to me and a couple of the players and given the time they had it was pleasing that the goals were in there which was great for those who scored.”
“In the game itself, we shot ourselves in the foot early on, twice really, before pegging them back, before in the second half kicked up a few gears that the performance warranted.”
“There’s a couple of away games that would have been nice away weekends for us, but for the Club and the supporters who are local, Charlton are a big club on the doorstep who have been getting 11,000 gates and if we can get a few down there supporting us, it’ll be a fantastic day for the Club.”
It will be the biggest crowd that McKimm will have managed in front of as his only other “appearance” as manager in the First Round was during COVID times.
“When we played Bradford (whilst manager of Tonbridge Angels), it was during COVID and so supporters could not enjoy the day.”
“So, to play in front of fans and the players to play in front of their families on an occasion like this and at a stadium like The Valley, and do not forget not long ago they were a Premier League side as well – it is good for the players.”
“We’ve got two important League games before we get to Charlton as well as Chatham in the Trophy, so now we can concentrate on other things before the game.”
“If the players get ahead of themselves, they won’t be at the Club very long and if they don’t perform to how we expect and want them to perform, they’ll play their way out of the side!”
“You need some luck in the draw, we have played Lordswood, Uxbridge and Northwood who are our level or below us in terms of divisions and the last two were from the Division above, but they were not from the National League!”
“The draw’s been kind, but we have still had to win the games. Our League is strong as ourselves and Ramsgate are in and Sheppey have a replay, but I am sure they will agree that you need the luck as well!”