Children at a Medway primary school are setting their usual football allegiances aside to cheer on a former pupil when he appears in the FA Cup quarter finals today.

Sean Raggett has inspired youngsters at Featherby Junior, Gillingham, after his 89th-minute winning goal for Lincoln City away to Premier League side Burnley.

The defender was the talk of his former primary school when he wrote himself and his club into the history books as they became the first non-league side to reach the sixth round of the competition in 103 years.

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The 23-year-old was an Arsenal fan as a lad and can now look forward to taking on the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Özil and Theo Walcott in Arsene Wenger’s team on Saturday.

Ben Allen, like Sean, is an Arsenal fan and a defender, but the 11-year-old said: “I’m probably going to go for Lincoln to win.”

Maisie Pope, 11, who plays centre back, said: “It’s amazing he’s playing against a team I support and it makes me believe I could do something like that. I reckon Lincoln have got the chance of scoring but aren’t going to win.”

Watch: Pupils at Featherby predict the outcome of today's match

She added: “Good luck Sean, I hope you score again.”

Lorna Brown, 11, said: “I didn’t know someone from our school could achieve so much.”

Assistant head teacher David Brenton said they were very proud of the former pupil.

“Sean was a bright boy,” he said. “He used his intelligence on the sports field and was always a good ambassador for the school. It’s not often you have an ex-pupil become national news.”

Mr Brenton knew Sean and his siblings, Susie and David, when they were at the school and said he was kept up to date on Sean’s career by his mother Jane, who works at the school as an artist.

After Featherby, Sean moved on to Rainham Mark Grammar School where deputy head teacher Alan Moore remembered his dedication to the game.

He said: “Sean represented the school in football consistently throughout his time at Rainham Mark Grammar School, often with distinction. At that time he exhibited a great desire to pursue a career in the game so it is not really a surprise – but it is a great pleasure – to see him performing at such a high level.

“Many current members of staff remember him well, and were very excited by “the goal” which secured the underdog’s win. We all wish Sean ever-growing success in the future.”

Sean’s footballing career began at Deanview 95 when he was just seven, before moving to Thamesview and then on to Chatham Town, where he was spotted for the Gills’ youth side aged 14.

He was released from Gillingham at 16 but then Dover manager Andy Hessenthaler invited him to join their academy, where he progressed through to the first team.

His mum and dad John, who live in Gillingham, follow their son’s matches home and away.

Lincoln City play Arsenal at the Emirates staduim on Saturday, kicking off at 5.30pm.