The FA Cup is coming to town next week as cup tie fever grips Shildon.

The Northern League club hasn't been to this stage of the Cup for over 40 years - since they beat Crook Town 2-1 in season 1961-62 - and they have home advantage against UniBond League club Stocksbridge next Saturday as they try and clinch a place amongst the Football League clubs in the first round hat a week on Monday.

As part of the publicity surrounding the most famous competition in the world, the FA is bringing the Cup itself to Shildon as part of the build up and supporters will have the opportunity to be photographed with the trophy on Thursday.

Excitement has been building steadily since Shildon won 3-1 at Shirebrook at the weekend.

Long-serving secretary Mike Armitage said: "We're hoping to finalise the arrangements with the FA in the next couple of days The appearance of the Cup will certainly add to the excitement next week, because it's a long time since Shildon have experienced anything like this.

"The town has been really buzzing since the win at Shirebrook. We had 664 watch the replay against Frickley in the previous round, and we're expecting near 1,000 for Stocksbridge.

"There are a few counter attractions that day, but hopefully it should still be a day to remember."

Manager Ray Gowan admits that the club was lucky to avoid the Conference big guns in the FA Cup draw on Monday.

Shildon were the penultimate team out of the hat, and they were drawn against the winners of the Eastwood and Stocksbridge replay, Stocksbridge eventually going through 3-2.

"We deserved a bit of luck, because the draws in the previous round haven't been too kind to us," said Gowan.

"In Monday's draw, there were several Conference clubs drawn out before we came out of the hat.

"To get Stocksbridge is a brilliant draw - but they'll be thinking the same."

Gowan took the opportunity to watch the midweek replay, but his side still have an FA Vase tie and a Durham Challenge Cup tie to play before the big game.