New manager Joe Conneely takes charge of Hinckley for the first time this weekend – and he can’t wait to get going with a game in “a special competition” the FA Cup.
Hinckley are back in the competition for the first time in four years after last season’s second-placed finish and face Midland League Premier side Wolverhampton Casuals at Kirkby Road on Sunday.
Conneely says the tie is an unexpected bonus.
He said: “We weren’t expecting to be in the FA Cup, but we’re delighted to be in it and we’ve got a free hit against a side from the league above.
“It’s a special competition, and a historic one. I’ve never managed in it before and some of the lads will never have played in it, and we’re really pleased to be involved.
“We’re the underdogs from the league below, that’s something we can relish and hopefully play off. It’s nice to be at home on our 3G pitch but the pressure is on them to come here and beat us.”
After a summer of change, the manager had a tough start to pre-season.
But he’s now confident that his new-look squad is starting to his its straps with back-to-back wins to end their run of friendlies.
The most recent friendly was as action-packed as it comes – 11 goals in total in a 6-5 win at Casuals’ league rivals Lichfield City.
The manager doesn’t necessarily want or expect that again – but says goals are a given with his side at the moment.
“Our strikers have scored goals in pre-season, we’ve got a hard-working and honest group and that’s what we’ll need.
“I’m more than happy with what I’ve seen from us going forward towards the back end of pre-season, but I was a bit raging inside with how we defended at Lichfield.
“Wolves have signed some good players this summer, and we’ve watched them play in pre-season so we’ll do everything we can to prepare for the game.
If the tie is level after 90 minutes, then the replay will take place on Tuesday evening at Wolves’ Brinsford Stadium, Brinsford Lane, Wolverhampton, WV10 7PR. The winners of the tie will collect £1,125 from the FA’s prize pool with the losers picking up £375. The winners of the tie will face either Cogenhoe United or Stone Old Alleynians at home in the preliminary round on Saturday 20th August.
Adults: £6
Concessions: £4
Under 16s: £2
