SATURDAY sees the start of Worcester City’s FA Trophy campaign and we want to do well in the competition.

There is reasonable money to be made and our early FA Cup exit has made the third qualifying round tie with Harrogate Town even more important.

It’s also a realistic opportunity for clubs at our level to have a really good run in a prestigious competition.

You always get a side from below the Conference Premier who do well in the Trophy.

A little fortune is needed along the way but there is the possibility of reaching the latter stages.

We have seen teams from outside non-league’s top-flight go all the way to the final and even win it — that has to be the incentive for us.

The Trophy has provided many memories for me during my playing days, not least when Worcester went to Telford United in the fifth round back in 2000. We took nearly 1,000 fans with us for a huge game but, after five minutes, our chances had gone.

Sam Bowen got sent off for an off-the-ball incident and, from there, it was backs to the wall. We lost 4-1.

I also remember playing Aldershot at St George’s Lane in 2002.

They were flying high in the old Ryman Premier at the time and I don’t think they had lost all season, but we beat them 1-0.

The Telford match was the furthest I have been in the Trophy although, at the start of my career, I was with Bilston Town when they got to the FA Vase semi-finals before losing late on against Canvey Island.

More recently, Worcester have enjoyed decent runs in the Trophy but we should have done better last season.

We came up against a tough Eastleigh side in the second round replay at the Lane but had thrown the first game away.

We were in the driving seat and conceded a sloppy goal just before half-time which changed the complexion of the game, which finished 3-3.

Talking of replays, I was delighted to see Stourbridge beat Plymouth in the FA Cup first round on Tuesday.

Managers Gary Hackett and Jon Ford are good blokes and I get on well with them.

Although I am a little envious, I am pleased for Stourbridge who are a good side.

I was with Gary when the Plymouth tie came out of the hat because I was playing in a memorial match for former Kidderminster Harriers player Chris Jones.

At the time, I said I fancied them to progress if they could get Plymouth back for a replay.

Any non-league club getting through is great and we wish them all the best against Stevenage in the next round.