Winger Lindon Meikle is hoping to continue his romantic association with the FA Cup when we lock horns with Workington in the Fourth Qualifying Round on Saturday.Â
The 24-year-old scooped a prestigious âPlayer of the Roundâ award back in 2008 after his spectacular strike helped former club Eastwood Town record a famous victory over Wycombe Wanderers.Â
The Badgers ultimately reached the Third Round of the 132-year-old competition that season, before they succumbed to an agonising defeat against non-league rivals Kettering Town.Â
And after our defeat to Fleetwood Town at this stage of the competition last term, Meikle is hoping for a more prolonged spell in the FA Cup this time around.Â
He said: âThe FA Cup is always good and itâs exciting for both the players and the fans. I absolutely love it and itâs a great competition to play in.âÂ
Jason Harrison (Mansfield 103.2) is asking the questions to Lindon Meikle and Andy Todd (pictured)
âWorkington will be a tough game though. Iâve played there a few times before and theyâve always had a lot of big, strong players so they are no pushovers at all.âÂ
Meikle will no doubt be hoping to feature in our clash at Borough Park after enduring a highly frustrating week whilst on international duty with the England C squad.Â
Paul Faircloughâs men flew out to Durres in Albania for a scheduled friendly, but saw their game called off only a few hours before kick-off after heavy rain led to a waterlogged pitch.Â
Meikle continued: âIt was disappointing, but what can you do? The weather was sunny one day and then raining the next.âÂ
âThe pitch had lots of puddles and even the changing room was flooded. There were power cables running through water that we were standing in, so in the end we just wanted to get out of there.âÂ
âI wouldnât say it was a total waste of time though, because we still had a good few days training with each other.âÂ
Meanwhile, midfielder Andy Todd also believes that our trip to Borough Park will represent a tough challenge and that we must earn the right to progress to the next round.Â
Todd added: âYouâve got to graft hard in these type of games and after that itâs the luck of the draw, but we have to earn the right to progress to the next round.âÂ
âItâs one of the longer trips, but weâll prepare for it professionally as we always do.âÂ
In the event of Saturdayâs clash ending in a draw, a subsequent replay would take place at One Call Stadium on Thursday 25 October (kick-off 7.45pm).Â
The draw for the First Round of the FA Cup takes place on Sunday at 1.30pm.