The magic of the FA Cup is yet to lose its lustre for Chertsey Town fan Steve Oakes, especially with the Curfews now in tantalising reach of a place in the First Round Proper for the first time in their history.  

The seventh-tier side will welcome near neighbours and National League side Sutton United to Alwyns Lane on Saturday for another chance at reaching the promised land of the First Round Proper, having been denied by Southend United at this stage in 2021.  

Chertsey have ridden the crest of a wave in recent years, with an FA Vase trophy and Isthmian League Division One South Central title not long in the rearview mirror but Oakes - who volunteers with the club as its media manager - admitted that reaching victory on Saturday would be an achievement of a whole different level.

He said: “Sutton are two leagues above us but we're expecting a massive crowd, possibly our highest-ever attendance because it's local which is great and it's at home and we do have a loyal following, so it'll be huge for the club.  

“We won the Vase five years ago so we've made our journey to Wembley but actually getting into the First Round Proper of the FA Cup is a totally different thing and while some people might have fallen out of love with the FA Cup, for non-league clubs the FA Cup is still the greatest cup competition there is and to get to this stage is great.

“Everyone is dreaming of another victory and going that one-step further which would be absolutely awesome if we can make it.”

Oakes is one of countless volunteers who play vital roles at non-league clubs throughout the UK, with opportunities to get involved now available through the Pitching In Volunteer Hub.

Through entering their postcode, individuals can locate volunteering opportunities at nearby clubs and discover more details about which roles are available.

For Oakes, there would be no non-league football without the tireless efforts of volunteers across the country. 

He added: “A lot of clubs will have average crowds of under 100 and it's absolutely vital that there are people close to the club in the community that are able to give their time as a volunteer to help keep things going.

“There's an awful lot of work involved in running a small club. People don't see what happens behind the scenes and whether, we're all doing this in addition to our full-time jobs the same way as the players are.

“It's critical that there's a whole team prepared to spend time not only on a matchday but in the build-up to a match, be that people running a burger van, or a tea bar or merchandise or stewarding or whatever it is.  

“All those things are vital to keep things moving and to keep a lot of clubs afloat.” 

Find volunteering opportunities at your local club by visiting https://pitchinginvolunteers.co.uk/