If the proper Beckenham turn up, I fancy us to get a result, says Michael Marks

The tie has already been postponed three times due to bad weather and Marks, manager Jason Huntley, and their amateur players cannot wait for the game to come.

The Norfolk side have scored 65 goals in 18 league games and are ten points behind leaders St Neots, although they have a couple of games in hand.

They are unbeaten in nine league games and beat Raunds Town 10-1 in their last game, on New Years Day.

Beckenham, meanwhile, have suffered three hurtful defeats against struggling sides recently, against Sporting Bengal, Fisher and Erith & Belvedere, and have slipped down to fifth place in the Kent League table, six points behind leaders Herne Bay, with a game in hand.

The winners will make the long trek to play Northern League side Norton & Stockton Ancients in the last 32 on 22 January.

Marks, who progressed through the youth ranks at Millwall, before making 44 first team appearances, scoring 11 goals for the Lions between 1984-1988, before joining Leyton Orient in February 2008 for a transfer fee of £30,000, said, “It’s massive.  It’s probably the biggest game in the club’s history to date.

“There’s only two sides we didn’t really want to get drawn against – and they’re one of them – but we’ve got home advantage and hopefully we can make them pay.

“Whitley Bay are the other one, they are always in the final aren’t they?!"

Whitley Bay - winners in 2002, 2009 and last season, welcome AFC Liverpool tomorow, for the right to travel to Beckenham's Kent League rivals, Herne Bay, in the last 32 on 22 January.

Marks added: “We had a bad result in the week, but I think it all boils down to this game to tell the truth more than anything.

“We just want to get this game over and done with now, win and march on.

“We’ve got a big game.  If we win this we go to somewhere in Newcastle, I believe, don’t we?  Who knows after that! 

“For a little club like Beckenham to be talking about five games from Wembley!  It’s madness really!  It can happen for us, why shouldn’t it?”

Beckenham have a reputation for not fulfilling their potential and losing their heads when things don’t go well for them during games.

But Marks insisted: “It will be the best Beckenham side to turn up tomorrow.  We always turn up for the good games – it’s the bad games we have to get them motivated for.

“There will be no doubt that we’re all raring to go.

“Everyone’s been looking forward to this game for five weeks.  One way or another we’ll know tomorrow.”

Marks knows his club will be outnumbers on the sidelines, but with local clubs Bromley and Cray Wanderers away to St Albans and Carshalton respectively tomorrow, the former Millwall star asks for local backing – and for his players to play the game of their lives to cause a giant-killing.

“I believe they're bringing 300-400 people with them,” he warned.

“It will be good as it will set our players standards.  They want to play in front of crowds so one way or another it will be good.

“I think they average between 900-1100 at their home games so they’re a big club with tradition.

“I think they’re second favourites to win the tournament so we’re definitely underdogs, but we’ve got home advantage.

“As you know the pitch is absolutely beautiful.  They can play football on our pitch and it will be right up their ally, but hopefully the right Beckenham turn up tomorrow and we win the game.

“I’ve told the boys, you play in these big games, this is what you’re in football for.  There’s no more motivation for an away trip up to Newcastle.  They have to look forward to things like that.  If they can’t, they shouldn’t be playing.  That’s what it’s all about.

“We’ll get into our players heads as quickly as possible, these games don’t come along every day.

“If they don’t get themselves motivated tomorrow, they shouldn’t be playing – but they will, they’ll be alright.

“If we give a good account of ourselves and we get beat by a better side with no luck involved, we can hold our hands up.

“We can give any side a game, if we play well.  I don’t think there’s any side in this competition that will murder us.

“If the proper Beckenham turn up tomorrow, I fancy us to get a result.

“Hopefully a few people will see that the game’s on and all the people from Bromley, Cray, Beckenham, anyone, if they turn up, it will be fantastic for us.”

Admission prices are £7 (adults), £3 (concessions) and £2 (children)

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game

Visit Beckenham Town’s website: www.beckenhamtownfc.co.uk

Beckenham Town  v  King’s Lynn Town
FA Carlsberg Vase Third Round
Saturday 8^th January 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At 374 Eden Park Avenue, Beckenham, Kent BR3 3JL