In the modest clubhouse of Weston-super-Mare AFC, a sense of wonder still hangs in the air weeks after the FA Cup draw. The part-time, sixth-tier club is on the brink of its greatest ever footballing adventure: a third-round tie away at Grimsby Town.
A Dream Draw and a Part-Time Reality
Bridget Bolland, the club's operations manager, reflects on the surreal nature of their journey. She notes that visiting teams usually eat post-match meals on a bench beside the skittles alley, typically tucking into sausage and chips. The fleeting thought of Premier League superstars dining in such humble surroundings has only just faded.
Instead, Weston-super-Mare, who are chasing promotion in the National League South, are preparing for a different kind of giant-killing mission. They face Grimsby Town of League Two, a side famous for defeating Manchester United in the Carabao Cup earlier this season. "As a United fan, I hated them that night," admits Weston manager Scott Rogers. "I was going mad at the TV. But I'm hoping we can do something similar. There's always an upset in the Cup: why can't it be us?"
The Squad: Teachers, Builders and Former Pros
The squad embodies the spirit of non-league football. The players, who train just twice a week, balance football with day jobs ranging from builders and teachers to lecturers. Captain Emlyn Lewis, who works at Cardiff Metropolitan University, had to book annual leave for the trip to Grimsby.
It's a mix of youth and experience. Veteran defender Michael Smith, who has 19 caps for Northern Ireland, brings top-level know-how. He fondly recalls celebrating the second-round win over Chelmsford City with fans in a local pub. "We had a few beers with them and it was brilliant," Smith says. "That's what this level is all about."
The club's heartbeat is also found in its long-serving players. Midfielder Jacob Cane, a veteran of over 400 appearances across 11 years, once shared lifts to training with a young Ollie Watkins, now an England and Aston Villa star. A shirt signed by Watkins proudly hangs in the boardroom, a symbol of the club's role in developing talent.
Community Pride and Financial Boost
The Cup run has electrified the seaside town and provided a vital financial injection. Club chairman Oli Bliss confirms the adventure has generated approximately £150,000, a transformative sum for a club with a mid-table budget. He admits his usual budget tracking has been delightfully confused by the unexpected prize money.
This is a true family affair. The Bliss family has been at the helm for decades, with Paul Bliss stepping down as chair last summer after 39 years, passing the reins to his son Oli. Ten members of the Bliss family will be among the 1,200 Weston supporters making the trip to Blundell Park.
For manager Scott Rogers, the run is the stuff of personal dreams. A former apprentice at Bristol City, he admits he secretly wished for a tie against them. Yet, the opportunity to lead his team out at Grimsby is no poor consolation. Having already made history by reaching this stage for the first time, Rogers and his band of part-time heroes are daring to dream of one more monumental upset. The question hanging over Blundell Park is simple: why can't it be them?
