By Andrew Warshaw

Gavin Macpherson doesn’t need reminding about the importance of the FA Cup.

Gav knows how a decent cup run, and the financial rewards that go with it, can galvanise a team’s season and like all of us is hoping for a successful start when we take on Potters Bar at home on Saturday in the first qualifying round (ko 3pm).

Five years ago while at Met Police, Gavin enjoyed his “15 minutes of fame”, as he put it, when his then club reached the first round proper against Newport County having come through six ties.

The television cameras were there to witness the professional side’s 2-0 win and it was a memorable day all round.

Town’s unbeaten league start – including a 2-0 win at Potters Bar — will have little bearing on Saturday’s fixture. The Scholars have brought in a raft of new players since and whilst both teams might have hoped for a draw against lower league opposition at this stage of the competition, we have to contend with a Step 3 rival.

Following Monday’s draw at Haringey, when we had a raft of players missing, Gavin is hoping to have a few  back from injury for what promises to be hard-fought game between two sides desperate to advance.

“Potters Bar have probably learned more lessons about us than vice-versa,” said Gavin. “There’s a difference in their personnel now but it should help being at home. I’ve experienced the FA Cup and it’s a game changer. We need the fans to get behind us as they always do.”