South Shields defender Gary Liddle has urged his side to ‘grasp the opportunity’ that lies in wait when they face Forest Green Rovers in the FA Cup first round on Saturday. The Mariners have already enjoyed a productive run in the competition by seeing off Shildon, Workington, Marske United and, most notably, Scunthorpe United to reach the first round for only the second time in their history.
The BBC cameras will be on hand to witness a historic moment for Kevin Phillips’ men as they look to cause what would be a major upset against a side sat in the League One relegation zone. Former Hartlepool United centre-back Liddle admitted his side had already overcome ‘a real challenge’ to reach the first round and expressed his determination to make the most of Saturday’s eagerly-anticipated clash.
He told Chronicle Live: “It’s a bonus really. We said, first and foremost, the aim for the season is promotion and anything after that is a massive bonus. We wanted to get to the first round, but it takes a good four or five wins to get there and that is a real challenge for any club and it’s a new experience for me.
