FARNBOROUGH Town, despite being a respected Football Conference Club, have had to live in the shadow of near-neighbours Aldershot Town who draw much bigger crowds for their Ryman League matches at the Recreation Ground, with its Football League facilities.
All that changes this weekend when Farnborough take on mighty Arsenal at Highbury in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Aldershot have even switched their league home game with Ford United to tonight (Friday) to give local fans the option of a day out in London.
Farnborough's clash with the Premiership giants has captured the public imagination and they will have their own passionate support amongst the 30,000-plus fans inside Highbury.
Boro's allocation of 5,000 tickets was snapped up at Cherrywood Road last week, reviving memories of the fans who suddenly materialised 11 years ago when Farnborough drew West Ham in the third round of the FA Cup.
The tie was switched to Upton Park and a crowd of 23,449 saw Farnborough battle to an excellent 1-1 draw, Dean Coney converting a late penalty to cancel out Julian Dicks' goal for the Hammers. West Ham won the replay, but only just. With extra time looming, Trevor Morley scrambled the only goal in the dying seconds.
Farnborough were a Surrey Senior League club as recently as 1968 and only began to climb the non-league ladder four years later when they joined the London Spartan League, with Farnham Town amongst their opponents.
Under long-serving manager Ted Pearce, their progress was unstoppable and after a meteoric rise through the Athenian and Isthmian Leagues, they reached the GM Vauxhall Conference in 1989.
The 1990s were more difficult for Farnborough, but they bounced back from two relegations and a new era began in 1999 when Graham Westley took over as owner, chairman and manager.
Westley, a cleaning company millionaire, has bankrolled the Hampshire club, who seldom attract more than 800 fans to their home game.
But with strange timing, he risked undermining the morale of his players by revealing in an interview with the Non-League Paper last weekend that he intends to leave the club at the end of the season and "start to find a new vehicle" to help carry him towards his goal of Premiership football.
This season could prove to be Farnborough's best yet. Currently tenth in the Conference, they are still in the FA Trophy and reached the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time with a stirring 3-2 win at Nationwide Division Three club Darlington.
Danny Carroll was their outstanding player with two goals, including the winner. Former Chelsea starlet Rocky Baptiste, erratic but a potential match-winner, had given Boro the lead after just 10 minutes.
Tony Pennock again showed his pedigree with some excellent saves, while skipper Steve Watson again led from the front with a power-packed performance in midfield.