Kevin Horlock on who he wants history-making Needham Market to come out of the hat with in tonight's Emirates FA Cup first round draw
Kevin Horlock is hoping his history-making Needham Market side will be paired with either Ipswich Town or Colchester United in tonight's Emirates FA Cup first round draw.
The Marketmen knocked out Vanarama National League outfit Maidstone United at Bloomfields on Saturday, as Luke Ingram's early strike sealed a 1-0 win to progress past the fourth qualifying round for the first time.
The Pitching In Southern League Premier Division Central side now take their place in this evening's first round draw, which is being shown live on BBC2 from 7pm, and will be ball number 77.
For Needham boss Horlock it will be business as usual with his players reporting in for their regular Monday night training session this evening, but with the addition of watching the live draw together as a group.
"We train on Monday," he said. "Nothing changes, whether we win, lose or draw, we train the same, at a good tempo, and we train hard to try and improve.
"This Monday we'll watch the FA Cup draw as well."
Clubs from Sky Bet League One and Two, including Ipswich and Colchester, will be in the hat along with Needham, who as one of seven Step 3 sides in the draw, are among the lowest-ranked teams left in the competition.
"From a selfish point of view, and obviously with location and the revenue it could bring in, probably Ipswich," said Horlock, when asked who he would like to be drawn out of the hat with tonight.
"I've got ties with Colchester as well. I was there for a number of years, so that would be nice.
"Or a home tie we have the potential of winning. Although I wouldn't say we can't win those other ties.
"It's something to look forward to. This group of players have created history for the football club.
"I told them that before the game (against Maidstone) that's what was on the line.
"In football you have to enjoy the good moments, because there's a lot of lows.
"This moment is up there with anything I've done in football as a player.
"I know they don't come around very often, so when you're grey and old you can look back and think what a time it was and what a special thing to have been a part of this group and achieve what we did."
Selected ball numbers for Monday's FA Cup first-round draw
77 Needham Market
25 Ipswich Town
13 Colchester United
9 Cambridge United
16 Derby County
11 Charlton Athletic
40 Sheffield Wednesday
37 Portsmouth
5 Bolton Wanderers
51 King's Lynn Town
78 Chelmsford City
