Midfielder Lee Butler says Hinckley AFC have nothing to lose in their Emirates FA Cup opener at Worksop Town tomorrow.
The extra preliminary round tie has pitted AFC away to a Worksop side who play in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, a level higher than Hinckley in the pyramid.
Worksop finished in mid table last term but had an impressive pre-season campaign, in which the standout result was a 5-0 win over Matlock Town.
The sides have never met before, and Butler says Hinckley will go into the game without fear. 
He said: “It’s a bit of a strange one to start the season with an FA Cup game but it’s a game where we’ve got nothing to lose.
“We’ve had a testing pre-season campaign that we’ve tried to play as competitively as possible and that will stand us in good stead going into the game.
“Every game in our pre-season has been different for different reasons. There’s a lot that the gaffer and his backroom staff wanted to work on and I think we’ve got it nailed down now.”
Hinckley’s previous two extra preliminary round ties have both resulted in replays, with one win and one defeat. Two seasons ago, the win over Walsall Wood prompted a run to the second qualifying round, where AFC were the lowest ranked side remaining before being knocked out by Chasetown.
Butler is a former Chasetown player, and says the stories from their run to the third round in 2008, when they were beaten by eventual finalists Cardiff City, has him aspiring to similar success.
“The FA Cup was always the biggest competition in the country growing up, and it was something I always used to watch on the television.
“When I signed for Chasetown, there were lads there who had been on their cup run. I used to listen to their stories and it makes you hope that one day, you’ll be able to tell a story like that. It’s made me more hungry than ever to get at least one cup run in my career.”
AFC are taking a supporters’ coach to the game which has limited seats remaining, which Butler says will act as great inspiration for the players.
“I don’t think the fans realise how big a part they can play. They’re the best fans I’ve ever come across in non-league football, especially when they’re loud.
“The lads are always on about the fans and the influence they can make. We really appreciate the support and hopefully we can put on a good show for them at Worksop.”
Worksop play at the Windsor Food Service Stadium, Babbage Way, Sandy Lane, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, S80 1UJ.
Adults: £5
Concessions and 11-16: £3
Under 10s: Free with paying adult
