Gulliver: "The Cup is Special"

Phil Gulliver feels there is a buzz about Corby ahead of their big FA Cup date with Luton Town this weekend. The Steelmen face the Hatters at home in their first appearance at this stage of the competition since 1967.

And Gulliver can't wait to tackle the occasion.

"I think the fact that we're at this stage of the competition shows just what big strides the club has made in the last few years," he said.

"Not too long ago, this sort of game would have been unheard of for Corby Town.

"But now, the whole town is buzzing, not just about this game but about the way things are going for the club in general with the new ground and the progress we've made up the leagues.

"To get a famous FA Cup win in front of what will be a big crowd on Saturday would be the icing on the cake."

Gulliver has never faced Luton, even when he was with Rushden & Diamonds as the Hatters came into the same league the year after he left Nene Park.

But he has played against some of their players and does have experience of the first round of the cup having been there with Hereford United.

"We played Shrewsbury and we had a great run that year and got to the third round," he recalled.

"To be honest, though, any FA Cup game has something special about it, regardless of what round it is.

"It's a competition I always dreamt of doing well in as a kid and that makes the Luton game all the bigger for me."

The Steelmen also have an extra incentive for wanting to do well on Saturday - making up for their 4-3 defeat by Blyth Spartans in the Blue Square Bet North last weekend which ended their unbeaten home record.

"Everyone was bitterly disappointed after last week," continued Gulliver.

"So it's vital we bounce back to the form we've been showing at home and that would be the case even if Saturday was just a regular league game.

"But it isn't, it's a big cup tie and that makes it the perfect chance to get back on track."