Lowest-ranked side Stafford look to re-ignite cup success

Stafford Rangers manager Graham Deakin stepped up from his role as coach to take over at Marston Road in February - and save his side from the drop [Stafford Rangers FC] Stafford Rangers go into Sunday's FA Cup first-round tie with promotion-chasing League Two side Grimsby Town as very much the underdogs. They are the lowest-ranked side left in this year's competition. Second in the Northern Premier League West Division, the eighth-tier club will be up against a team from four levels higher - currently standing sixth in League Two. Skip back 50 years and Rangers were ruling the roost in non-league football. Three times they went to Wembley, twice winning the FA Trophy, in 1972 and 1979, under the command of Roy Chapman, father of Leeds United title winner and former Stoke City striker Lee. And, in between, they also reached the fourth round of the FA Cup. Despite being founder members of non-league football's first 'fifth division', the Alliance Premier League, when it launched in 1979, it then all fizzled out as the club went into decline. The average weekly crowds of up to 4,000 dropped off, finances suffered and Rangers lost their way. From the archives: Stafford Rangers on BBC Radio Stoke Rangers did win back their place in the fifth tier briefly in 2006, under Stafford-born former Wolves and Stoke midfielder Phil Robinson. But that lasted just two seasons and he had departed before they went back down again under Wolves legend Steve Bull in 2008. Now Rangers are back up and fighting again - and this cup run has been a major catalyst, encapsulated by the 5-0 fourth qualifying round replay win over Gateshead which got them to this stage. "The feeling we have around the club is one of anticipation," chief executive David Smith told BBC Radio Stoke. "The place is buzzing. "There's people everywhere working, trying to get the ground ready – to make it the way we want to be. "It's quite a challenge for us, to be live on TV on Sunday lunchtime. But the staff have put in many hours of service to be match ready. We've already had three full houses here of 3,000 plus crowds, so we're almost getting used to it." Alvechurch and Stafford set up tasty FA Cup ties Stafford Rangers awaiting another bumper Cup crowd Four sides reach round one of FA Cup for first time From chip shop to the touchline When all is said and done, Stafford still have one thing in common with their past - they are still part-timers. The club's assistant manager, Alfie Marsden, works in a chip shop by day. But Rangers boss Graham Deakin points out they are no amateurs when it comes to their fine-detailed preparations to face former Crewe Alexandra boss David Artell's Mariners, who have won their past two games, scoring nine goals in the process. They were also cup giantkillers themselves little more than a year ago when they beat Manchester United on penalties in the EFL Cup. "We've earned the right to be here with the run we've had," Deakin told BBC Midlands Today. "We've shown already that we've been the underdogs and beaten teams from a higher division. And we've done it the hard way. We've had to get through eight games after all the replays we've had. "But we've had all the analysis done on Grimsby. We've watched all their games and we've done everything we can." Meanwhile, first-team coach Alex Meakin said everyone was excited about the tie. "There is an energy about us," he said. "We've got a job to do. That's the be-all and end-all. That's what winning games does. And it's really important that we go and do the job on Sunday – and keep making people proud." Non-league's greatest giant-killers eye another scalp Worcestershire trio aim to make more Cup magic Diamonds are forever - phoenix club seek FA Cup upset Whatever happens on Sunday, the feeling is one of forward momentum. The club's Staffordshire-born but now US-based majority shareholder Nathan Owen is returning for the game. "What an incredible journey this has already been," Owen said. "And hopefully there is more to come. "For me, the vision was really to get Stafford Rangers to be a big part of the community. "My wife is from Stafford, I'm from a few miles east in Rugeley originally and I really appreciate the pride people have in the club. "To see the club at the heart of the community again is what it's all about. You can't describe the pleasure – I'm not in it for the money. But days like these make it all worthwhile. "My friends in America are very excited about it – less so the ones in California who have to set their watch to 04:00 GMT but they promise they are going to watch." Final word has to go, however, to Maxine King, landlady at the local, The Kings Arms. "We're six-deep at the bar," she said. "You can't get through the door. I've had to put extra staff on, and they don't just come before the kick-off, they come after the match too. "And we get 'away' and 'home' fans coming in together, which is great." Follow your club with BBC Sport Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast Get football news sent straight to your phone