Kentish Football 
If we are to achieve anything at Huddersfield there’s going to be eleven heroes, says Martin Hayes
Thursday 06th January 2011
DOVER ATHLETIC’S legendary manager Martin Hayes says he is looking for eleven heroes when his side lock horns with League One high-flyers Huddersfield Town in the Third Round of The FA Cup on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.
This is the Kent club’s seventh FA Cup tie of the season, having disposed of Erith Town, Cambridge City and Farnborough in the qualifying rounds and knocking out two League Two sides in Gillingham and Aldershot Town en-route to the Third Round.
Former Arsenal star Hayes takes his side to face Huddersfield, a side that are sitting in fourth place in the League One table, with a record of 11 wins and 3 draws from 23 games and are seven points adrift of league leaders Brighton & Hove Albion.
But Hayes has one of the most lethal strikers in English football at his disposal, Adam Birchall, 26, who has netted a whopping 29 goals from 25 starts this season, eleven of those goals in The FA Cup.
“If we are to achieve anything at Huddersfield there’s going to be eleven, 12, 13 or 14 heroes,” said Hayes.
“Unfortunately he gets the credit at the moment but there’s a lot of lads around him helping us get there.
“If someone has scored 29 goals by this stage of the season, he’s doing a lot of things right and he’s scored some very good goals, a couple of excellent finishes on Monday and it seems to be his season at the moment.”
Former Arsenal and Barnet ace Birchall scored FIVE of Dover Athletic’s seven goals during their impressive 7-2 win at struggling Thurrock in Blue Square Bet South last Monday afternoon, as the Whites sit in fourth place in the table with 34 points from 18 games.
“It’s certainly nice going up there on the back of a nice win, although the opposition obviously wasn’t the strongest, it’s still nice to play and then get that result and a certain person banged in a few goals, so it keeps him happy.”
Looking forward to the Third Round clash, Hayes said: “Everyone I’ve spoken to speaks very highly of Huddersfield, they’re a good side; they’re strong at home; they’ve got good players; very attacking. It’s a nice stadium; a big pitch and we’re under no illusions we’ve got a big game ahead of us.
“We’ve got a big, big challenge. We’re not going to have much of the ball. We’re going to be defending for long periods. We’re going to be asked lots of questions over the ninety minutes - questions that we haven’t been asked all season.
“If we are going to achieve something, we’ve got to play like as never before and we need to hope we have a bit of fortune along the way.
“Huddersfield have beaten some big sides at home and it’s going to be very tough for us.
“With all due respect, if they do play as they’re supposed to then our Cup run will come to an end because by right they should bat us and put us out of the Cup.”
But that’s what Gillingham and Aldershot Town thought!
“It can be done! It can be done,” added Hayes.
“If we play well and they’re quite not on their game and their players don’t do what they’re supposed to do - or they just have one of those days where the ball doesn’t go in - you look for one of those days. We’re going to look for that bit of good fortune - but it can happen!
“It’s one of the joys of the FA Cup but we have to go up there and believe it’s going to be one of those days!”
Striker Birchall has created national publicity through his goalscoring exploits this season, but Hayes wants to see another player step up to the plate to stun Huddersfield in their own back yard.
He said: “Everybody knows about him, but he’s a quality player, he’s capable of doing something a little bit spectacular in a split second. He can turn, he can beat people and finish and strike the ball really well and that’s his qualities.
“The FA Cup throws up surprise packages and you never know what’s going to happen. The good thing is there’s no pressure on us, we can just go up there, look forward to the day and occasion and give it our best and nothing is expected of us. Even the bookies don’t expect us to do anything.
“We’re going to enjoy ourselves, no matter what the result as we’ve had a great FA Cup run. We’re still going to go up there and see if we can achieve something. It would be nice to have another couple of heroes popped up.
“If any realistic heroes are going to be the back four or Ross (Flitney, my goalkeeper) as I can see them having a busy Saturday afternoon!”
At least 1,500 fans are expected to travel up to Kent and Hayes paid tribute to the Crabble faithful.
He said: “If think if you look at the numbers going up there it’s probably one of the best supported clubs for away fans outside the top two divisions. I don’t think Huddersfield have had 1,5000 people go up there this year.
“It just goes to show the support. I know it’s a one-off game and it’s captured everybody’s imagination and it’s not going to happen every week, but it’s great for those fans to get behind the club and it’s great for the fans that have been week in, week out. They’ve been to some really bad places and it’s really nice they’re going to be able to stand on the terraces of Huddersfield.
“It’s a fabulous stadium. I’ve been there and it’s nice and just they’ll just enjoy watching us come out and participate in the third round of The FA Cup. As much as you say it, it never gets boring talking about it!
“I just hope the lads put on a show and do them proud in gold!”
Meanwhile, Hayes’s heroes return to Crabble next Tuesday for a vital league game against foes Woking.
“It’s a massive game, they’re on a good run of form since their FA Cup exit and they’ve been beating sides and have had a good Christmas and New Year and are back in contention for a play-off place,” said Hayes.
“We certainly need to get over whatever result comes our way on Saturday as Tuesday will be a tough game and we’re going to be straight back into it.
“We’ve still got another 15-16 league games to try and win to try and guarantee us first of all a play-off place and try and also challenge to try and win it.
“I’m just hoping the Huddersfield game doesn’t knock us back in the league too much - it would be nice to try and finish the season with another high!”
Visit Dover Athletic’s website: www.doverathletic.com
Huddersfield Town v Dover Athletic
FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) Third Round
Saturday 8th January 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At The Galpharm Stadium, Stadium Way, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire HD1 6PX
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd