In the modest clubhouse of Weston-super-Mare AFC, the lingering buzz of an historic FA Cup run mixes with a palpable sense of disbelief. The part-time, sixth-tier club, nestled a couple of miles from its namesake beach, is preparing for its first-ever appearance in the competition's prestigious third round, a journey that has already defied all expectations.
A Dream Draw and a Part-Time Reality
Operations manager Bridget Bolland reflects on the surreal nature of their progress, noting that visiting teams usually eat post-match sausage and chips on a bench by the skittles alley. The thought of Premier League superstars gracing that space after the draw has only just faded, replaced by the tangible challenge of a trip to face League Two's Grimsby Town this weekend.
Grimsby themselves are no strangers to an upset, having beaten Manchester United in the Carabao Cup earlier this season. "As a United fan, I hated them that night," admits Weston's 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?"
A Squad Built on Passion and Day Jobs
The Weston squad is a mosaic of experience and everyday professions. Players convene for training just twice a week, balancing football with careers as builders, teachers, labourers, and lecturers. Captain Emlyn Lewis, who works at Cardiff Metropolitan University, has booked annual leave for the trip north.
The team's spirit was epitomised after their second-round victory over Chelmsford City, where two goals from striker Louis Britton sealed a famous win. The squad and fans celebrated together at a nearby pub. "We had a few beers with them and it was brilliant," says 37-year-old defender Michael Smith, a former Northern Ireland international. "That's what this level is all about... We were well lubricated on the way back, put it that way."
Manager Rogers savoured a quiet moment on the bus home, reflecting on the frantic match. "I had my notebook for the game, squiggles everywhere, and when we got to the 83rd minute I just wrote: 'Please, God.' Great memories. And I've been doing a lot of praying lately," he confesses.
Family Club, Community Pride
Weston-super-Mare is a true family affair. Last summer, Paul Bliss stepped down as chairman after 39 years, handing the role to his son Oli, with another son, Ed, as vice-chair. Paul will be among ten Bliss family members in the 1,200-strong away allocation at Grimsby's Blundell Park.
The club's roots run deep, with a stand recently renamed for president Dennis Usher, whose family involvement stretches back to the 1950s. The Cup run has already generated around £150,000 for the club, a transformative sum for a side with a mid-table National League South budget. "I can normally tell the manager how much budget they have left but this year it has been confusing – for a good reason," admits chairman Oli Bliss, who had only budgeted for two cup wins this season.
As the club prepares for its seventh match in this unforgettable cup adventure, which began at Taunton Town in September, the sense of occasion is immense. For Rogers, who once scored the winner at Wembley in the FA Vase, surpassing the achievements of mentors like his uncle Martyn, the dream is alive. The question hanging over the seaside town is simple: can their historic run have one more glorious chapter?
