Merthyr Town manager Paul Michael admitted it is hard to ignore the prize that awaits his side if they get through their FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifying match tomorrow. 

The Martyrs are just one win away from the First Round proper, where they could face the likes of Sheffield Wednesday and 2008 winners Portsmouth.

But first they must overcome fellow Pitching In side Folkestone Invicta in order to ensure they’re in the hat for Monday’s draw.

And Paul revealed thoughts have drifted to the potential of a plum tie but insists focus remains on Saturday, one of the biggest games in the club’s history. 

Paul, who took the Penydarren Park hotseat in April after a spell with Yate Town told us…….

“The mind does wander. You look at all those clubs who have been in the Premier League or at Newport County for a Welsh derby.  

“You can’t help but think about that’s the possibility that’s there – anyone would be lying if they said the thought of playing Bolton, Ipswich, or Derby County hadn’t crossed their minds.  

“Nothing is achieved and ultimately, it’s one game, and one team won’t be going through. We’ve got to focus and do our best and then we can all think about the possibilities with real excitement.” 

The Martyrs have already produced some cup heroics this season, knocking out Gloucester City from the league above thanks to Lewis Powell’s last-minute winner. 

And having had a taste of the magic of the cup, Michael wants more for Merthyr with the holy grail of the First Round proper tantalisingly close. 

Paul added……

“It was an absolutely brilliant day and a moment that the supporters have craved after a few tough years. 

“It was a great day but you get greedy with the FA Cup, that’s the problem.  

“When we looked at that game we thought if we could just do ourselves justice and everyone was absolutely delighted and celebrated but as soon as the draws out then everyone’s greedy and now everyone wants the First Round.” 

The prize of a drawing a big tie in the next round is one that all at Merthyr Town are banking on, after a rocky few years in South Wales. 

The Martyrs should have been relegated from the Southern League South Premier last season, only for the demise of Walton Casuals giving them a late reprieve. 

It is only 12 years since the Martyrs reformed after previous club Merthyr Tydfill went bust, and Michael is fully aware of how important a big cup tie would be for the club’s loyal support. 

“The club has got a proud history with some huge games that have been played in the past, but it’s something that’s not happened in a while. 

“There’s a lot of supporters who haven’t seen a big game or a huge club come and play. That’s what everyone wants, not only the financial reward, but getting a huge tie against a Football League team. 

“That’s why we’re in the game and why I went to Merthyr because there’s a great fanbase there for a Step 3 club, it’s got potential to be bigger. 

“Those shared experiences, that’s why we love the game. To have one so soon into my tenure is brilliant but now we all get greedy and want another one.” 

A place in the FA Cup First Round would be a fitting reward for the fans who rebuilt the club from the ashes to a place of financial and footballing stability. 

Like most clubs in non-league, the club is reliant on volunteers, and Paul believes a big day out in the cup would go at least some way to giving back to those who have built the club back up from the bottom. 

“Since it’s reformed, it’s supporter-owned and it’s the supporters who stepped up to take on these huge roles at the football club. 

“They are doing this for the love of the club. They’ve taken it back to some sort of stability, back to Step 3, and put it in a sound financial position so that we can compete at this level.  

“There isn’t a big benefactor, the money that the club has all has to be generated either by events at the club, through the turnstiles or through prize money. 

“It’s huge and something that the club doesn’t budget for, but will make a big difference in the short-term. 

“It would just be great to give these guys and the supporters who buy ownership of the club every season, they’re the ones who’ve kept this club going and it would be great to give them back a great moment to share on the weekend.” 

There’s still time to get tickets for tomorrow’s game, just go HERE.

Ladbrokes, with the support of its owner Entain, has launched a multi-million-pound investment programme, Pitching In, designed to support and promote grassroots sports. For more details go HERE.