This weekend’s FA Cup second-round tie between Wealdstone and Wycombe Wanderers will be a unique encounter for both teams.
An 11.30am kick-off time against two sides who frequently played each other during their Non League days, Saturday’s fixture will be on for the football purists who fancy something different.
And for one former Wycombe hero, the match will be a tad special to them.
Simon Garner, who featured for both teams in the latter stages of his career, is hoping for a good contest.
He said: “I had a great time at both clubs.
“Firstly under Martin O’Neill at Wycombe where we got promoted to the old Second Division and then almost went straight up the following season.
“It was at the back end of my career when I signed for Wealdstone who were by then all the way down in the third tier of the Isthmian League.
“I won my first league title there and then we got promoted again the following season.
“More than the success on the field, they were great times with two great bunches of lads.
“The dressing rooms were very enjoyable and we had a good time together, on and off the pitch.”
Garner, who now works as a self-employed painter and decorator and lives in Bourne End, remains Blackburn Rovers’ all-time top goalscorer and joined Wycombe having played for the Ewood Park side for more than a decade before spending two years at West Bromwich Albion.
While Wycombe are the favourites, Garner says anything could happen.
He added: “I guess that’s the magic of the cup.
“Wycombe are top of League One and in great form. Matt Bloomfield has got a good squad together and he’s doing a great job there.
“They will be expected to win, no doubt about that, but you can’t write off Wealdstone.
"There’s no pressure on them, even if they are at home, and we all know anything can happen.”
Last year he published his autobiography, entitled One Last Shot, where he reflected at length on a successful career, including cup success of his own.
Garner said: “Sadly I never experienced a good FA Cup run, but we did win the Full Members Cup at Blackburn in 1987.
“We were the underdogs a couple of times, including against Chelsea in the quarter-final, and then in the final, we beat Charlton Athletic who were in the league above us.
“So it just goes to show, anything can happen.”
Simon Garner’s book is available from £12.99 at www.simongarnerbook.co.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article