Matthew Panter: Tamworth FC and co are bringing the magic of the cup

I'd been the sports editor of my local newspaper - the Tamworth Herald - for a good while and had been on a rollercoaster ride with the town's football club. 

I'd covered promotions, relegations, cup runs and a raft of managerial changes at Tamworth FC. 

And, in April 2020, after a few stagnant years, which culminated in a relegation, things seemed to be on the up. 

I remember being sat on the press bench,  when a loan player - Joel Carta -  hit a well-struck shot past Stratford Town goalkeeper Rhys Davies to wrap up a 4-1 thumping. 

The win left Tamworth well and truly wrapped up in a title tussle in the BetVictor Southern Premier Central, fighting it out with Peterborough Sports but with games in hand. 

And such was my confidence in promotion that year, I started working on a special printed souvenir - the type of thing I have always loved getting my teeth into. 

But as supporters left the ground with a spring in their collective steps, it was to prove the last time for a while that they'd be gathered in the iconic Shed stand. 

Just two more games - neither involving Tamworth - were possible in the league that season before it was declared null and void during the pandemic and football, instead, became about  toilet roll ‘keepy-uppy’ challenges in the living rooms of homes up and down the country. 

I remember feeling totally gutted for the Lambs at that time.

The coaching team - Gary Smith, Andrew Danylyszyn and Tom Baillie - as well as players and supporters had invested so much time, energy and money into nine months of a campaign but it was then snatched away from them. 

The management eventually changed after more frustrating times - and I left my role on the paper too due to redundancy - but I'm thrilled to see the club now in the middle of one of the most incredible periods of their history and a spell which has helped give the Staffordshire town, currently in the midst of £21m regeneration work, a boost.    

Manager Andy Peaks, who comes across as articulate, intelligent and passionate, has guided them to two incredible promotions. 

It has been an extraordinary return to good times for the club, which is now holding its own in the top flight of non-league football against full-time clubs. 

But even more thrilling is the FA Cup journey the club is on this season,  culminating with a clash against the Premier League might of Tottenham Hotspur. 

That incredible draw has left me feeling proud of my home town, thrilled for the club's supporters and players and slightly regretful that haven't been able to put together one of the souvenir supplements I so enjoyed in my past role. 

Most importantly though, it's a tie which shows the magic of the FA Cup still exists and the third round of the competition, which is already under way, is without doubt one of the best occasions in the English sporting calendar. 

The thought of Lambs boss Peaks pitting his wits against under pressure Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou on Sunday really does bring intrigue. Who knows if the Spurs defence will cope against the threat of Tom Tonks' long throw or how the Tottenham attack will deal with the challenge of beating heroic and talismanic keeper Jas Singh. 

A weekend which will also bring Liverpool v Accrington Stanley, Manchester City v Salford  and Newcastle v Bromley among other ties really does look mouthwatering. 

I have personally witnessed the magic before, seeing Tamworth travel to Everton's Goodison Park, with the Lambs giving a good account of themselves before eventually losing. 

And, on the other side of the fence, I've witnessed the embarrassment of the Baggies losing to Woking and the fear of going into school the following Monday to face a ribbing off Villa fans.

Hopefully this weekend will bring a shock or two again and it'd be lovely if one of those was in the West Midlands. With a huge Snowdome looming near the Lamb Ground,  Tottenham's player will be hoping they're not on a slippery slope to embarrassment.