Faversham manager Tommy Warrilow has fond memories with Ebbsfleet - not that he expects many at Stonebridge Road to remember his playing days there!

Warrilow will aim to mastermind a second straight FA Cup upset against National League South opposition when his Lilywhites take on Josh Wright’s Fleet team this Saturday.

Affectionately known as “Texas Tom”, he captained the Fleet to the 1993/94 Southern League title after two earlier brief stints at Stonebridge Road in the 1980s.

The 61-year-old has been back with Ebbsfleet since, working as chief scout to then-manager Steve Brown in 2014 for three months after he had left his role as Tonbridge Angels boss.

He said: “When I came out of Tonbridge, Browny said ‘Come and do some scouting for us’.

“Fair play to him for that. It was still in National League South.

“As a manager, when you’re out of football, if you go to a game, everyone says stuff like ‘Oh, what’s he doing over here?’. They put two and two together - and get five!

“You can’t watch a game of football as an ex-manager because everyone thinks that you’re there for other reasons.

"When Browny gave me that opportunity to do some scouting, it was brilliant because I could go to football and keep my eye on what was going on by being there as a scout.

“Regarding my playing days, I’m not sure if anyone really will remember me. There will be a few, obviously, but it was over 30 years ago!

“I have got a lot of history there. I was fortunate enough to be their captain when we won the league, which was really nice.

"But the club has evolved since then so there’s a different set-up altogether now.”

Having already seen off Balham and Hastings, as well as Maidenhead 1-0 in the previous round, Town’s trip to Ebbsfleet - the first competitive clash between the teams in more than 60 years - has drawn plenty of interest.

Versatile Fleet midfielder Ben Chapman was on loan at Salters Lane in 2018 and Faversham’s experienced Isthmian South East squad possesses plenty of players who will have come up against Ebbsfleet while at higher-division clubs.

“When you look at some of the teams that are still in the FA Cup, we could have perhaps got a less attractive draw,” said Warrilow, who will be without defender Matt Newman and forward Johan Caney-Bryan due to suspension.

“But I think this is one that has got a nice ring to it.

“Obviously, it’s a Kent derby and it has got a lot of interest through the media.

"My phone hasn’t really stopped ringing over the last few days!”

The winners of the tie will pocket £5,625 and sit one more victory away from a place in the FA Cup first round proper and potential Football League opponents.

Faversham, who drew 0-0 at Erith Town in the league last weekend despite having Caney-Bryan sent off late on, won 3-1 at Broadbridge Heath on Tuesday.

Ethan Smith, Tommie Fagg and Tashi-Jay Kwayie netted as playmaker Nathan Wood returned from injury to make his 100th appearance for the club off the bench.

They will be at home to Ashford in the Velocity Cup second round on Tuesday.

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