We'll give it everything for you, says Kettering Town boss Cox

Paul Cox says Kettering Town’s Emirates FA Cup clash with Chelmsford City will be “tinged with sadness” when it kicks-off behind closed doors this weekend.

The Poppies’ new campaign is set to start in the most unusual of circumstances with fans of ‘elite’ clubs not being allowed to attend matches due to the current restrictions in the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kettering’s clash with the National League South side will be played out in front of a virtually empty Latimer Park tomorrow (Saturday) before the Poppies then head to Gloucester City for their opening National League North fixture next Tuesday night.

And boss Cox insists he has nothing but sympathy for the club’s supporters but promised he and his players will “give it everything” to progress to the third qualifying round.

“We are talking about the best club cup competition on the planet and I think we have all reached the understanding that the game isn’t anything without the supporters,” the Kettering manager said.

“I just think it’s a sad situation we find ourselves in and it’s a farcical one with some fans being allowed to attend some matches and others not, depending on what level your club plays at.

“It’s a competition I have always loved and you can’t help but get excited about it but it’s tinged with that bit of sadness because our own supporters can’t be in the ground to cheer us on.

“We will be trying our best, we will give it everything and I think our fans understand that and hopefully, if we can win the game, they might be able to enjoy watching us in the FA Cup later in the season.

“We have got to be professional and approach the game right and plan for every eventuality.”

The tie against a Clarets side who were sitting in 10th place in the South when last season ended early represents a tricky opening test for Cox and his players as the manager begins his first full campaign at the helm.

But he insists his team’s approach would have been the same regardless of who they were drawn against.

He added: “The draw is the draw. Sometimes it’s kind to you, sometimes it’s not.

“The way I see it is that it’s a game we have to go and impose ourselves on and we have to go and try to win it.

“To some extent, it doesn’t matter who we play. We have had a solid pre-season and we want to progress in this competition.

“They are a good side and they’ve been consistent in the National League South. It will be a tough game but if we had drawn Step 5 side it would have been tough as well.

“You have to earn the right to win every game regardless of the opponent.”

The tie will be played to a finish tomorrow and it will go straight to penalties if the scores are level after 90 minutes.