Horsham FC captain Jack Brivio stated that getting an FA Cup First Round replay with League One opposition Barnsley is a “once or second-time opportunity” of his own and his teammates’ careers on Tuesday night.
“It’s a once or second-time opportunity for clubs like us… to get to the Second Round would be an incredible feeling for the players and the fans. We’ll be giving it a good crack on the night.”
Brivio also said that holding the Tykes to a Replay was “at the top of the list” for his career highlights in his tenure at the Hornets.
“It’s hard to say it’s not top of the list, to be honest with you. And, you know, taking a League One team to a replay back to our place it’s a massive achievement”, said Brivio. “The performance we put in was just a brilliant feeling.”
Horsham drew 3-3 with the Tykes at Oakwell in the original tie, and Brivio stated that he and the Horsham players were “excited to get going” when they travelled up to South Yorkshire.
“You could tell everyone was excited to get going. That buzz of playing at a great stadium for the likes of us non-league players. It was a delight to get through the game and to get the draw to get the replay and bring it back here”.
Brivio is also the first club captain to oversee the Hornets reaching the First Round of the FA Cup on two occasions.
When asked about what that statistic meant to him personally, Brivio said it was “a great achievement”.
Embed from Getty Images“Yeah, no it’s a great achievement. When I joined it probably wasn’t something that was on my radar, to be honest. But, I’ve been with Dom (Di Paola) for five or six years and we’ve always had a good relationship. Big achievement getting the first one under our belts and this one feels even better, particularly after how we performed at Barnsley. You never know, we might do it again next year!”
If Horsham are to win at the Camping World Community Stadium on Tuesday, they will reach the Second Round of the FA Cup for only the second time in the club’s 142-year history, and for the first time in 18 years.
The game will also be broadcast on ITV4 – the first time the Hornets will have a televised game since their Second Round Replay away to Swansea City in 2007, where they fell to a 6-2 defeat in front of the Sky Sports cameras in South Wales after taking the lead twice through two goals in the first 25 minutes from Lee Farrell.
The winner of the tie will go on to play Sutton United away from home across the weekend of Saturday 2nd December, and they will also take home £41,000 in prize money.