Truro City are aiming to reach the FA Cup First Round Proper for only the second time in their history when they face Sutton United on Saturday.
The Tinners have only once before made it that far, with their previous appearance coming in 2017. This tie therefore carries a familiar kind of importance for the club, with a place in the main draw at stake and the chance to add another milestone to their cup history.
There is also a clear challenge in front of them. Sutton United play in the division above Truro City, which makes this an opportunity for an upset as well as a shot at progress. John Askey said it would be special if the club could get a result on Saturday and reach the first round.
What Truro City are up against
Askey did not downplay the task. He described Sutton as favourites and Truro as massive underdogs, but also pointed to the nature of the FA Cup, where one match can change everything.
“We know it's going to be tough. Obviously they're favorites and we're probably massive underdogs, but it is just on the day, isn't it? And that is the magic of the FA Cup,” he said.
That sense of opportunity is part of what makes the competition matter so much to clubs at Truro’s level. Askey said there is nothing like the FA Cup to create interest, and that reaching the first round would bring extra attention to the club.
Why the tie matters
Truro City also have a recent reference point from last season, when they won 3-0 at Sutton. Askey was careful not to lean too heavily on that result, though, noting that a season can feel like a long time ago and that both teams have changed since then.
“Last season we probably could have scored more goals, but a season on seems a long time ago,” he said. “Their team's changed, our team's changed a little bit, and every game is different.”
That is the practical reality of a cup tie like this. Previous results can offer confidence, but they do not guarantee anything. Truro’s form this season has at least given them a platform, with the club having lost just twice in 14 outings.
For Askey, the attraction is simple: the possibility of another upset, another step forward and, if things go right, another special moment for the club and its supporters. He said there is no reason Truro cannot go there, put on a good show and possibly get through.
“We've seen many upsets bigger than Truro beating Sutton,” he said. “That's what attracts us to it, everyone wanting the underdog to win.”
He also underlined the wider significance of progress in the competition. “It would be really special. With the FA Cup, every round you progress, the more interest that goes with it. If we do get through and get a decent draw—especially if you can get the television cameras down, it can bring in a lot of money for the football club.”
For Truro City, the equation is clear. A win would mean a place in the FA Cup First Round Proper for only the second time ever, and a shot at even more attention beyond that.
