Bucks or Orient? Too close to call for one fan with a foot in both camps

But while the East Londoners, who sit top of the National League, represent the biggest hurdle possible between the Bucks and a potential trip to Wembley Stadium in May, for at least one long term Telford fan it will represent an unlikely first ever meeting of his two favourite clubs.

Former supporters association chairman and programme editor Rollo Sheridan has followed the Bucks for 30 years - but was an avid O's fan before moving to Shropshire in the 1980's.

He and his son Mike Sheridan have supported the Bucks ever since, and Mike, a photographer and journalist can be found pitch side at near enough every game snapping the Bucks up and down the country.

Rollo recalls: "I started going to games at Brisbane Road during the 1970's when they were flying high in Division Two, what's now the championship."

A change of occupation brought a change of scenery for Rollo, a computer programmer with the HMRC, and when they shifted operations up to leafy Shropshire he moved to the new town in 1987 with his young family.

With a regular jaunt down the M1 proving impractical, he turned to a pre-season visit to the Bucks Head for a football fix, and was struck with some of the similarities between the Bucks and his London favourites.

"I suppose I saw some of the same things at Telford as I saw at Orient - They are both clubs with enormous spirit and both clubs that really deserve success but perhaps don't always get it.

"And yeah, their ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory is sometimes exactly the same!"

A hip operation in 2010 have curtailed Rollo's visits to the New Bucks Head for now, but he still follows the club avidly through the radio and newspapers.

And the team's resurgence under Gavin Cowan have left him glowing with praise for their efforts after several seasons of struggle in the Conference North.

According to Rollo the game two legged semi-final is too close to call, but he would be tempted out of his self imposed retirement for a visit to the national stadium should the Bucks over come the non-league's big name.

He added: "Suddenly they look like a team again, they've got pride, it's really something isn't it? God knows how we're gonna keep this guy (Cowan), he's done such a brilliant job.

"No predictions. I hope that Telford put on a show, I hope they win, I honestly don't know that they will. Ah, no, come on, we won't be happy with that. We want to go to Wembley don't we! Of course we do."

"Yes, I will be tempted. I went last time they went but yes I'd love to actually, of course! I hear it's changed a bit since the last time we were there."