Chairman to miss FA cup match for Santa trip

The chairman of a non-league club will miss a crucial FA Cup tie because he is taking his granddaughter to visit Santa Claus.

Brackley Town's supremo, Francis Oliver, will not be watching his side on Saturday as he will be visiting his family.

The Northamptonshire side play Stockport County in the second round of the world's oldest football competition in a match that could see them progress to the third round for the first time in the club's history.

Mr Oliver said: "[Saturday] is the only day [his family] could do. I shall be thinking from Brackley from afar and checking the score."

The Saints booked their place in the second round of the competition after beating Braintree Town 5-4 on penalties.

The club is now guaranteed £25,000 from the next match - a figure described by Mr Oliver as a "godsend".

The opposition, Stockport needed extra-time to see off Forest Green Rovers in round one.

Mr Oliver, who played in goal for Brackley in the 1970s, added: "We've got a chance. If we get to the third round, [everything else] would have to wait!"

Fans who are free for the game are gearing up.

Will Grasshoff is making the 140-mile trip to Greater Manchester to see the match and said he was "very nervous but excited".

"To be honest we couldn't have got a much tougher draw. Hopefully they will underestimate us but it will be very, very hard."

Kick-off at Edgeley Park is 15:00 GMT on Saturday.

BBC Radio Northampton has updates on its Sport programme from 14:00, which features commentary on Northampton Saints v Gloucester.

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