STANWAY ROVERS boss Angelo Harrop is pinning his hopes on a much-needed FA Cup run.

By his own admission, the club have had a testing 12 months or so and last season’s 13th-place finish in the Thurlow Nunn League premier division was viewed as an under-achievement by all at The Hawthorns.

However, Stanway have made a solid, unbeaten start to the new premier division campaign, drawing at Newmarket and then pipping neighbours FC Clacton 2-1 on Tuesday night.

And a cup run is seen as a big ingredient in helping make this a much more memorable campaign.

Rovers begin with tomorrow’s extra preliminary round trip to Basildon United.

“The memories I have of Stanway are of big Vase matches,” said Harrop.

“It’s great playing in cup competitions, in front of big crowds, and I think as a club we need a run this year.

“The league is everything to me and I want a really good season, where people get a little belief back in our club.

“But if we can have a cup run as well then great.

“It’s so important for teams like ourselves.

“It raises valuable income and raises the profile of the club.

“We need that, after what was such a tough time last year."

For the full story and more non-league news, see Friday's Gazette.