AFTER plenty of discussion and excitement, the wait is nearly over.

The weekend is upon us and it's all systems go with regards our FA Cup third qualifying round tie at home to Torquay United.

The Gulls will start as massive favourites and we understand and respect the reasons why.

They're a former Football League club and I clearly remember when they played Colchester in the play-off final in 1998.

I was 22 at the time and my first daughter, Bethany, was about to be born. That was a massive game and it’s incredible to think we’ll be sharing the pitch with them on Saturday.

Torquay will fancy their chances but this is the cup and, as we know, anything can happen.

With football, I’m always positive - more positive than I am in everyday life, if truth be known - and even when it feels like there’s no hope, that scenario brings the best out in me.

I don’t know why. Maybe I like the challenge and adversity.

Guys at work have been asking me what the odds are and, of course, everyone will be expecting them to win.

Torquay will fancy it, take one look at us and think they should beat us. And so they should.

But this is the FA Cup. Hopefully they come here and underestimate us.

There have been so many cases down the years of lesser sides beating higher-placed ones and we have to make the most of our home advantage.

North Road has always been a tough place to visit.

Everyone we play knows they're in for a tough game against an energetic, hard-working side that had the backing of great supporters.

Now we need them more than ever. I’m sure we’ll have a big crowd behind us and I can't wait.

The FA Cup is so important to me.

I remember when I was a boy it was the most important game of the year.

It was the only match you could watch on telly and long before Sky.

I know I’m showing my age but I remember as a ten-year-old, being a Liverpool supporter, watching them in the ’86 final against Everton.

I remember going over the field afterwards, wearing my kit and playing football with my mates, pretending to be Ian Rush.

I’m quite nostalgic and traditional when it comes to football and like looking back in the past.

That’s what it means to me and on a personal level, it’s still a great competition.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the Champions League too.

But the FA Cup is extra special. It’s magical and none more so than this weekend, when little old Brightlingsea play Torquay.

With Gary Johnson there as manager now, I can’t imagine them not going back up through the steps and into the Football League again.

They must have that ambition.

Gary’s a high-profile manager and massively experienced, both at club level and also internationally.

I’d imagine he’s been doing this for 20 years.

For me, as am ambitious person, it’s going to be a challenge going up against and testing myself against someone like that. I can't wait.

I genuinely didn’t want to get too excited after the draw was made, because we knew we still had a job to do against Egham (Regent won 2-1 in a second qualifying round replay, having drawn 3-3 away).

Had we lost that one, it would have been even more disappointing because of the draw we’d been given the previous day.

In normal circumstances you’d be happy to draw away and get a replay at home.

But because of the manner that we’d been pegged back and conceded late on, it was hard to take.

However, I still knew we had a great chance - a fantastic opportunity - I was so relieved to get through.

While I hate talking about money, it’s impossible to ignore the financial benefits.

We’ve bagged £15,000 now and I said to Terry (Doherty), the chairman, and Phil (Calver), the treasurer, that if we could also win a couple of games in the Trophy you’re talking £20,000.

That would be huge for any non-league club and I certainly know how important it is to Brightlingsea.