Grays won the FA Trophy in 2006 at Upton Park

By Glenn Speller BBC Essex

There is never a dull moment at Grays Athletic but the Essex side would not mind a slice of the quiet life.

As they prepare for their replayed FA Cup tie with Carlisle there are still mutterings about the floodlight failure when the first game was abandoned.

Carlisle will be making their second 660-mile round-trip after the lights went out with Grays leading 1-0.

Grays vice-chairman Kevin Lamb said: "We've had them taken apart and rebuilt to ensure it doesn't happen again."

It would not have been so bad had the same problem not happened the previous week before a Setanta Shield game against Chelmsford which saw that match also abandoned just before kick-off.

"We've had a request from the FA to explain things but we're not expecting any further action and in fairness to Carlisle they've been great about it."

It has been a topsy-turvy last four years for the Blue Square Premier club who were formed in 1890 as Grays Juniors.

They were promoted to the top division of non-league football in 2005 and also won the FA Trophy that year.

The next season, under manager Mark Stimson, they reached the Conference play-offs, losing to Halifax. But after winning the FA Trophy for the second successive season, Stimson quit and that is where the problems began.

Grays are on their eighth manager in two years with Wayne Burnett appointed in October and tasked with keeping them in the Blue Square Premier.

The FA Cup run means we've been able to pay the players in full Grays vice-chairman Kevin Lamb

That job has been made all the harder with the current financial climate leading to three major sponsors pulling out, leaving a shortfall in funding.

Lamb said: "We asked the players to take a 50% wage-cut to safeguard the future of the club but the FA Cup run means so far we've been able to pay them in full.

"So far all the players have been behind us and we're working on a month-to-month basis."

Operating with a full-time squad has enabled Grays to compete at the top table of non-league football but this season a revolving door policy of players coming in and out has led to a lack of consistency, hence they are currently second from bottom.

Grays have never before beaten a Football League side in the FA Cup and with a money-spinning home tie against Crewe in the offing they realise now would be a good time to make some history.

Lamb said: "We really need the town behind us and the Cup run is creating more interest but we mustn't lose sight of the fact we need to stay in the Blue Square Premier this season as well."

There will be full match commentary of Saturday's game on BBC Essex 95.3FM and www.bbc.co.uk/essex, with kick-off at 1300 GMT.

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