AFC Portchester manager Gav Spurway believes the Royals Army have a key role to play in the club’s FA Cup trip to Gloucester City.

The Royals head west tomorrow (Saturday) for their first appearance in the First Qualifying Round stage of the world’s most famous cup competition for eight years.

It will be a tough assignment as Gloucester currently sit in fourth position in the Southern League’s Premier South Division – one level above Portchester in the non league pyramid system.

And there will be plenty of support for the home side too at The TigerTurf Stadium as The Tigers get crowds in excess of 1,000 spectators.

However, AFC Portchester supporters have been in fine voice during the opening weeks of the season and they have been turning up to matches in increasing numbers.

A large following cheered the Royals to victory at Moneyfields in the last round and in the round before that there were plenty of Portchester supporters who made the trip up to Melksham Town.

Over 600 spectators once again watched Portchester in league action at The OnSite Group Stadium when they took on Moneyfields on Bank Holiday Monday – following on from a crowd of 675 on the opening day of the season against Bognor Regis Town.

Fans continue to impress club officials with the numbers backing the team and the noise they are producing throughout games. This is something not lost on the Royals’ boss too and Spurway believes another large and noisy following on the road this weekend could be key to his side having a chance of pulling off an FA Cup upset.

Speaking about the Royals Army following Monday’s 4-0 league win over Moneyfields, Spurway said: “The support has been brilliant. We are getting loads of numbers through the gates at the moment.

“The football we are playing and goals we are scoring at home will hopefully keep bringing them back. This club has always had good support and it is getting better every game. The club is growing and people are enjoying coming to watch football here and that is the most important thing.”

Spurway added that on paper Gloucester will be strong favourites to go through to the Second Qualifying Round but he believes it can be the kind of occasion where a big, noisy away following could have an impact on the day.

He added: “We know they (Gloucester) are a really, really good side and it’s going to be a tough day but I feel if it is going to be the kind of day that if we can get as many people to come up with us as we can, they may be able to make it more difficult for them.

“We can go there and enjoy the game with no pressure on us as everyone is going to be expecting them to beat us – and they should with the league they are in and the way they play.”

Royals fans can purchase match tickets in advance for the Gloucester City match by clicking here