A North-East football team is travelling travel in Premiership style for its date with destiny.

Whitby Town FC, ranked near the bottom of the Unibond Premier League, caused the shock of this year's FA Cup run when it equalised one all with Division Three leaders Plymouth Argyle at the Seasiders' home ground a fortnight ago.

Since then, emotions in Whitby ran from excitement and ecstacy to sheer panic when it became apparent that the team could not afford to make the trip to the South-West coast for the vital replay.

Fortunately an appeal on Sky TV by desperate chairman Graham Manser prompted Leeds United chairman Peter Ridsdale to offer the team the use of the Premiership side's first team coach and pay for the team to stay in a hotel tonight.

The players usually accustomed to mini buses found themselves travelling in the luxury normally afforded to the likes of Rio Ferdinand and Johnathan Woodgate.

And as they reclined on the leather seats, decided which videos to watch on the eight hour journey, and contemplated what food to prepare in the on board kitchen, the lads were impressed.

Manager Harry Dunn was also clearly delighted with the luxurious transport.

"It was looking as though it was going to be a nightmare until the club stepped forward. The offer came totally out of the blue but it gives the lads a chance to travel in comfort on a bus of this quality and prepare themselves for the match."

But the tiny team is under no illusions about the task that faces them in tonight's crucial game. Plymouth are unbeaten in 17 games and while Whitby's away form is good, they have not won a game at home all season. Bookies are giving the Seasiders odds of 100 to 150 to one.

Mr Dunn believes anything is possible on the night and is simply determined that his team will play at its best ability for 90 minutes.

"We are just going to enjoy the whole two days and have a good go and if we don't win and give a good account of ourselves, I will be more than satisfied."

More than 200 supporters are also travelling to Plymouth to spur on their side, who will get a prized home draw against either Aldershot or Bristol Rovers if they succeed in pulling off one of the biggest upsets of the FA Cup.