History makers Sheppey United look for major FA Cup upset
Last month, Isle of Sheppey-based Sheppey United made FA Cup history, beating Billericay Town to reach the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time in their 133-year existence.
Playing in the Isthmian South East league, Sheppey United progressed on penalties, with Jacob Lambert scoring the winning spot-kick.
https://twitter.com/EmiratesFACup/status/1714560061559746818
Lambert’s penalty has over 350,000 views on X, truly showing the magic of the FA Cup is still alive.
The Ites were rewarded with a home tie against League Two Walsall, selected for broadcast by ITV4.
🏆⚽️ FA CUP 1ST ROUND ON ITV ⚽️🏆
Here are the games we're showing for the 1st round of the @EmiratesFACup on @ITV pic.twitter.com/Oxi2RUB1I8
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) October 20, 2023
There are four divisions between the two teams, but having a televised FA Cup fixture is game-changing for Sheppey United.
Earlier this week, the Sports Gazette spoke to Sheppey United Chairman, Tony Hughes as well as Communications Director, Lee Allen.
History with Sheppey United
Sheppey United has a long history, and Allen’s involvement with the club dates back decades.
He said: “I started supporting Sheppey United in the 80’s.
“My dad used to take me down to the old Botany Road ground. Sheppey (United) did fall for some time and then they came back to life about ten years ago.”
After following the Ites as a fan, Allen decided to get involved with the club in a different capacity after the height of the coronavirus pandemic, taking up multiple roles.
“I started on the social media side. Then, I started collecting stats and passing them on to the first team. Eventually, the management team said I could do that as another role and the kit man role came up as well.”
“I love it to be honest. Particularly the kit man stuff because you’re very close to the players, you build all these relationships.”
Current success
Tony Hughes has only been chairman of Sheppey United for 11 weeks, but has been in high demand since the FA Cup success.
“Since we got through that game, I’ve been here every single day,” Hughes explained.
“I’m fortunate enough I’ve got a business where it can run without me because it’s all Sheppey (United) at the moment. There’s no balance.”
Allen added to this, saying: “I’m not joking when I say I’m up at five in the morning and I send Tony a text expecting him to see it a couple hours later, but he’s up at the same time!
“Even outside this FA Cup stuff, part-time football takes a lot of effort. I put six days a week into the club, and Tony would probably say the same.”
History makers
Reliving the emotions of the cup tie against Billericay Town last month, Hughes and Allen couldn’t believe what they were seeing.
“Every time we’ve been in a penalty shootout, we’ve not been that successful,” said Allen.
“But you look at the penalties, all five were brilliantly placed. The crowd helped as well as they worked well behind the goal, supporting our lads. And the celebrations at the end, I won’t forget that moment.”
Hughes spoke about the winning penalty and his feelings beforehand.
“When Jason (Lambert) walked up, I did think he’s a young man to be taking this penalty. But he put it away nonchalantly and the whole place erupted.”
“We didn’t leave until two, three o’clock in the morning, and then we all came in the next morning, all hungover. We got millions of calls from press and all sorts of people trying to come down and see us. I’ve never experienced anything like it.”
Media attention
When speaking about all of the new media attention Sheppey United are receiving ahead of the round two tie tonight, Allen stated: “We were told we have to hold a proper press conference.”
“We’ve got BBC coming in, ITV and other major outlets. I’ve learned a lot over the last week that, if I’m honest, I didn’t expect to learn because we’ve got to this stage of the FA Cup.”
Chairman Hughes added his own experience with the fresh media exposure, with the actual FA Cup set to appear at Friday’s big game.
“We were told by ITV that the cup will arrive here at five o’clock on game day and will be left on the pitch, then it’s coming up to the boardroom. And I’m thinking: ‘The FA Cup? Coming here? We don’t ever do things like that!'”
FA Cup money
The FA Cup can prove to be a money-spinner for non-league teams compared to the riches of the Premier League, making the FA Cup hugely important for teams further down the football pyramid.
Allen and Hughes spoke about what the FA Cup money partnered with ITV cameras being at next Friday’s game will do for the club.
“We’ve now got some money to make the place look nice,” Hughes said.
“There’s maintenance being done on certain areas, and the money left over from this occasion helps the club in so many ways.”
“We’ve got a long league season coming up, so we need some money in the bank to hopefully get us up the league.”
Non-league football
When asked about the positives of non-league football compared to professional football from a supporter’s perspective, the chairman replied: “The fans know the players straight away and they get that personal bond with the players.”
“It’s like a family and that’s why people like non-league football. Everybody knows each other and whether it’s at home or away, it’s just part of their weekend life.”
Allen mentioned the price of football, especially in these current times of struggle for many, and how non-league football provides a sense of community.
“You go and watch Gillingham up the road and it will cost about ÂŁ25. We’re ÂŁ10 for an adult.”
“We try really hard to build it as a community club. We’ve got a men’s team, women’s team and things for the youth teams as well.”
“We’re on a journey, but we’ve still got a lot of steps to go because we want to make Sheppey a bigger attraction. It’s a big island (Isle of Sheppey) and we typically get 300 to 600 supporters every home game, but even from this point, we still want to grow.”
Sheppey United’s FA Cup second round tie against Walsall will be available to watch on ITV4 tonight, with kick-off at 7.45pm.
