A rather lost-for-words Alvechurch manager Ian Long admitted the 2-1 FA Cup win over Cheltenham Town was the “best day of my career”.

Church held on for a memorable cup upset against a side 74 places higher in the football pyramid thanks to a brace of goals from striker Danny Waldron.

Cheltenham’s Ryan Jackson halved the deficit after the hour mark but Church stood firm, leaving Long to reflect on a famous night for the small Worcestershire village side.

“I have just said this to the lads in there afterwards. As a player or manager, this is the best day of my career,” he said.

“It’s amazing. I am so proud of the players, the staff, we all worked so hard for that.

“I know we rode our luck a bit at times but we hit the post at the end and overall I thought we deserved it.

“We were matching them for legs and endeavour, just so proud. Superb.”

Even when his side went 2-0 up shortly after the break, Long refused to believe the unthinkable could happen but when the whistle blew, 1400 Alvechurch fans joined their team to celebrate and at that point he finally let it set in.

“When it was down in the corner flag and the linesman said it was time on the kick, that’s when I let myself believe!” he added.

“A big thank you to all those supporters, let’s hope they come down and support us in the league as well.

“We can be a real force. If we can get a big following we can be a serious force in non-league.”

Given that there were 74 league places between the sides and Church are the lowest ranked side left in the competition, it was a surprise that the TV cameras did not make an appearances.

But now the Southern League Premier outfit are in the hat for the second-round and maybe the likes of the BBC and BT Sport might be a little more interested now according to Long.

“I think we were something like 13, 14/1 to win today and the TV did not fancy us this time around for an upset either,” he said.

“They missed out on one today. Let’s hope they give us a home draw next round and the cameras can come down and we can pocket a couple of quid.”

The draw for the next round is at 7PM this evening (Monday) and the higher-ranked League One sides now enter the frame at this stage.

So maybe a tie with a Derby County, Sunderland, Charlton or an Ipswich.

But Church boss Long has sided on the route of playing a lower ranked side in round two, with a view to drawing a ‘big boy’ in Round Three. 

"Look, I think we want a home tie and maybe get the TV cameras down, that would be great for the chairman and the club," he said.

"But for me, I have always dreamt of playing against my boyhood club Manchester United. So if we can get a more favourable draw in round two and then draw United in round three. That would be a dream.

"I can then put my kit on and get on the pitch myself, how about that!"