Long-serving Folkestone Invicta boss Neil Cugley is optimistic his team can reach the FA Cup First Round proper for the first time in 17 years.

Cugley has been the manager of the Kent club for a quarter of a century – the longest stint in the top seven tiers of English football – and could roll back the years with a win against Merthyr Town.

It was 2005 when the Seasiders last reached the First Round and Cugley lead Ashford Town into FA Cup ties against Fulham and Watford in the mid-nineties.

The crunch clash in South Wales guarantees a Step 3 club will be in the hat for the introduction of Football League sides, and with their league form almost identical, Cugley upbeat about their chances.

“I’m fairly confident, I’ve got to say,” said Cugley. “I think they’re the same standard as us and seem to have the same sort of record as us so I think it’s going to be a tight game, but we’re confident.

“I’ve always been a believer it’s about how you do yourselves rather than what the other team do in games like this.

“It’s quite a long way but we’ve got a coach load going. We’re lucky with the following and a very passionate support.

“We all realise it’s a long way but we’ve got to give everything we can to get through.”

Folkestone will be buoyed by their performance in the previous round, knocking out National League South side Dulwich Hamlet in front of an 1,863-strong crowd at Champion Hill.

The 1-0 win was made even more impressive by the fact defender Nathan Green was sent off in the first-half with the scores still level at 0-0.

Cugley said: “I was delighted. We went down to ten men and we showed great character. I thought the players were excellent.

“They dug in deep and we had a bit of luck as well, I’ve got to say. It was great to play in front of such a knowledgeable crowd like that as well. It was very, very pleasing.”

And after a management career that spans over thirty years, Cugley is a huge advocate for the oldest cup competition in the world.

“The FA Cup is a great competition for non-league clubs. Now I know as you go up the system some clubs don’t take it as seriously but the revenue and the enjoyment you can get out of the games is excellent,” said Cugley.

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