Margy eyes cup glory

Trying to win the North West Counties Challenge Cup is just as important as attempting to attain the Division One title according to manager Karl Marginson and he’s made that very clear to his players.

FC United are back in action for the first time in three weeks this Saturday away at Colne in the Third Round of the Challenge Cup and Margy is taking the match very seriously.

He said: "I put the competition on a par with the league. On a personal level, if I’m selfish for just a moment, my record in cup competitions as a manger isn’t good and I want to address that and put it right."??

Personal goals are not the only thing driving Margy on though, as always he’s in tune with the club’s supporters: "We want to get to the final for the fans too. We know how much they’d love a good cup run and the final would be a great occasion and a great day out for all the fans."??

But as ever it’s one game at a time for now and the gaffer knows that Colne will provide a difficult test. He said: "I’ve watched them a few times this season and I know they’re a difficult side to play against, they’re well organised and they’re experienced.

"Playing at their ground will be a great leveller too because, no disrespect to them, it’s not the best of grounds. But it will be good to go there and get a result because it would prove once again that we can play anywhere and get results."??

Although there have been many changes in FC United’s personnel this season, there are still seven players in the current squad who were dumped out of the Challenge Cup by Colne last year at Accrington Stanley’s Interlink Stadium. "That might help to spur some of them on,"?? admits Margy, "but there’s no sour grapes about last season. We didn’t play well on the day and they deserved their victory."??

Other than Liam Coyne, who is serving the last game of his three match suspension, the Reds are at full strength and Margy admits that he really has got a headache over whom to select from his vast squad. He joked: "I’ll have to have a couple of Anadins before I go to bed on Friday I think. It’s a nice problem to have though."??

Colne versus FC United of Manchester is this Saturday 27 January at Colne’s Holt House Stadium with kick off at 2pm. Tickets are priced £5 for adults and £2.50 under-16s and over-60s, and there are 600 available at the turnstiles on the day.