After their unforgettable underdog heroics last season, giant-killers Marine are back in action this weekend when they do battle with Workington in the FA Cup preliminary round.

Neil Young’s heroes made national media waves last term, memorably reaching the FA Cup third round proper only to be pitted against Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur and going down 5-0.

Since their exit to Spurs way back in January, the Mariners – who compete in the Pitching In Northern Premier League Division One West – have played just three games of competitive football.

And ahead of their FA Cup clash against Workington, evergreen defender David Raven admits the period away from regular action has been a difficult adjustment for everyone.
The 36-year-old, who started his professional career at Liverpool, said: “It’s been quite strange.

“We had a small tournament in Clitheroe which was quite good for keeping the lads focussed and fit but that was in April for a festival of football.

“It wasn’t competitive and you just wonder when it’s going to happen again.

“I think there was, after the Spurs game, a feeling of flatness because [the FA Cup] was the one thing keeping everybody going. We knew the league was dead and we knew it was dead for the season.

“We knew that the next time we were likely to play would be September, so thankfully they’ve brought it forward – it’s been a strange time.”

During his elongated career, Raven – who hails from West Kirby – has made appearances for several clubs across the Football League and made his professional debut for the Reds in the League Cup against Spurs back in 2004.

And while the FA Cup result against Jose Mourinho’s old side in January wasn’t an experience he savoured, the buzzing build-up and excitement it gave the local Crosby area firmly was.

Raven, whose team have beaten Ramsbottom United and Newcastle Town in their first two league matches, added: “The one thing I’ll take away from the game against Tottenham is the build-up and what the community got from it.

“That was the best thing that could have happened for these people, in the middle of a lockdown, because it gave them something to shout about and look forward to.

“We didn’t ever really stand a chance of winning – if Tottenham turned up by even 50 per cent, we knew what they were capable of.

Ealing Times: Marine AFC fans posing for a photograph outside the stadium ahead of their FA Cup clash with SpursMarine AFC fans posing for a photograph outside the stadium ahead of their FA Cup clash with Spurs

“I think in a couple of years we’ll sit back and say how incredible it was for a club of Marine’s size to do that, it was an unbelievable achievement.

“In terms of the game, I don’t really take too much from that because we got battered and well and truly put in our place.”

Now that Marine have returned to the pitch following a long lay-off, Raven is predicting their clash against Workington to be an all-action affair.

“We’re playing one of the best teams in the league, so it’s going to be a scrap and a fight,” said Raven, whose NPL division is sponsored by Pitching In – a multi-million-pound investment programme set up by Ladbrokes, with the support of owner Entain.

“It’s going to be a proper cup tie, and there’s going to be nerves and excitement involved.

“The FA Cup run last year has probably put a bit of tag on us and I think people from the outside might look at us and give us a little bit more.

“There’s a bit more focus on it this year and for us to emulate what we did last year is a tough ask, let’s be honest.

“But, it’s going to be a great game because they’re a good side and we’re looking forward to it.”

Ladbrokes, with the support of its owner Entain, has launched a multi-million pound investment programme, Pitching In, designed to support and promote grassroots sports. For more details see: https://entaingroup.com/sustainability/pitching-in/