Sidley hoping for triumphant return to FA Cup

The Blues entertain Sussex Division Two outfit Pagham on Sunday August 28 hoping for their first ever win in arguably the world's greatest domestic cup competition.

This will be the seventh time United have taken part in the FA Cup, but they have been knocked out in the first qualifying round on each of their previous six campaigns during the 1970s.

Manager Liam Barham is viewing the extra preliminary round clash as the perfect opportunity to kick-start his side's season after two consecutive defeats at the start of their league campaign.

"That could be our little springboard on Sunday," said Barham, who actually played in the first round proper for Kingstonian against Peterborough United back in the early 1990s. "We just need a result to kick-start our season and I believe we will go on and head for where I want us to be, which is in the top half. Pagham will have looked at our results and fancy their chances, but I've got total confidence in my players and I want our home pitch to be like a fortress.

"I told the players on Tuesday night 'if you can't be up for an FA Cup game, you shouldn't be playing football'. I loved playing in the FA Cup as a player and it doesn't matter whether you're playing in the first round proper or preliminary round, you put in that extra little bit. Everybody's buzzing at the club and I'm hoping there will be a lot of people coming as it's a Sunday."

Chairman Dickie Day added: "Everyone's looking forward to it and it would be very nice to get a win under our belts, especially as it's the first home game of the season."

Goalkeeper Peter Newstead (knee) is likely to be out for between four and six weeks and defender Lee Wood could be out for some time too for personal reasons. Adam Day (knee) is a doubt and Wayne Farrier probably won't be fit until the end of September. Keith Miles and Steve Morris play their last games before serving lengthy suspensions.

The match, which kicks-off at 3pm, will be sponsored by St Leonards Motors (Fiat) of Hastings.

There will be extra time if required and any replay would be on Thursday, kick-off 7.45pm.