HUNTINGDON chairman Paul Hunt wants the town to get behind the club when they play Daventry in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup this Saturday.

This is the United Counties League Division One side’s first ever season in the FA Cup and they have already beaten beaten Long Eaton 4-0 and Bugbrooke St Michaels 2-1 – but now they face a Daventry Town side who play in Division One Central of the Southern League, and why beat Woodford United 5-0 in the preliminary round replay last week.

“We can beat them,” insists Hunt, who has grand ideas for the club. “And we fully expect to win promotion this season, too!

Ricky Marheineke was given the manager’s job full time during the summer and he has impressed Hunt no end – though the chairman did admit at being shocked after last Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Rushden & Higham United.

“I’m over the moon with the way things are going – apart from the game against Rushden, which was a surprise,” he said.

“But we really need people to come out and see us now – starting this Saturday in the Cup. We are the only team from the area left in the competition, that’s a shame for the others teams but it’s great news for us.

“We know it will be a tough game for us but we are fully expecting to win it.

“I went to see Daventry when they beat Woodford and they are not unbeatable.

“We have a great management team here; Ricky Marheineke, Mark Furness and Paul Swannell have done wonders and we are playing attractive football.

“And the club we have local lads playing for us.”

Hunt targeted two promotions in six years when he took over the running of the club from outgoing club co-founder Hans Reif and is determined to make Huntingdon Town a family club.

“I have some big ideas and I want to make this club a real community club,” he said.

Last night Town faced Peterborough Blue Star in the league and have a tough games against Oadby Town in the FA Vase the following Saturday.

“It’s exciting times to be a Huntingdon supporter,” said Hunt. “So come along and enjoy yourselves.”

Saturday’s FA Cup match at Jubilee Park kicks of at 3pm – a report from Tuesday night’s United Counties League game against Peterborough Blue Star will feature on www.huntspost.co.uk tomorrow (Wednesday).