Maldon & Tiptree captain Jack Cawley says he has relished the task of juggling life as a black cab driver with their run to the FA Cup first round.
The eighth-tier minnows – the lowest-ranked club left in the competition – will attempt to shock League One opponents Port Vale at Vale Park on Sunday having already won six ties to get this far.
The Maldon squad includes several players with experience of the English Football League and above including Freddie Sears, Macaulay Bonne, Gary Hooper, Anthony Wordsworth and Tom Eastman, as well as some exciting youngsters.
And Cawley, who played at clubs such as Bromley and Maidstone before going part time, is loving leading the group.
He told BBC Essex: “It’s crazy, a lot of the boys have been professional their whole lives so are used to coming in at the first or third round so for them to come in at the extra preliminary round, it’s a bit mad for them.
“A lot of the boys are part time at this level of football so have jobs on top. Some of the lads who have just come out of the professional game have the luxury of not having to do that and it’s a brilliant mix.”
