COLCHESTER United legend Wayne Brown hopes north Essex non-league football fans can get behind Maldon & Tiptree in the biggest fixture of the club’s history this weekend.

The Jammers are set to do battle with League Two outfit Leyton Orient in the FA Cup first round on Sunday.

Brown is well aware of what a big FA Cup fixture against a higher-placed opponent can mean to a club, having been a key part of the Colchester United side that travelled to Stamford Bridge to face Premier League side Chelsea in the fifth round back in February 2006.

And he is now hoping Maldon and their fans can enjoy their time in the spotlight.

Having already seen a large number of tickets sold at the weekend as the Jammers beat Grays Athletic 3-1 in BetVictor Isthmian League division north, Brown wants to give the travelling supporters something to shout about at Brisbane Road on Sunday.

“It’s the biggest game the club has ever had,” said Brown, who took charge of Maldon during the summer of 2018.

“A lot of hard work has gone on behind the scenes at the club and all hands have been on deck because I don’t think people really appreciate what goes on when planning for a fixture of this magnitude.

“Ticket sales have gone well so far and it would be good to have a decent following for the lads.

“It would be fantastic to take a good number of supporters to Orient for what is such a big game in the club’s history.

“Supporters always come out of the woodwork for big games like this and I’m expecting it to be no different this weekend.

“It’s up to us to entertain them and make sure that they want to come and watch us at Park Drive on a regular basis.

“We will probably take 600 or 700 people to the game and that is really nice for the boys on the pitch to know they have that backing.

“It’s a great occasion for the football club and hopefully we can give the supporters something to shout about.”

The Jammers head to Orient having made an incredible start to the season.

Maldon have reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history and their 100 per cent winning start to the Isthmian North campaign was extended by overcoming Grays last weekend.

They have already had to get past Saffron Walden Town, Histon, Wingate & Finchley, Chertsey Town and Royston Town to reach their date at the O's on Sunday.

Orient, following their National League title win last term, are currently 16th in the League Two standings.

And the O’s will be eager to bounce back from their 1-0 defeat by managerless Morecambe, who are at the foot of the League Two table, last time out when Maldon head to Brisbane Road.