By Pete Oliver

Former team-mates Stimson and Edinburgh will be managerial rivals

Something will have to give when FA Trophy holders Grays Athletic take on Stevenage and former manager Mark Stimson in the semi-finals.

With Stimson at the helm, Grays lifted the Trophy in 2005 and 2006 and are chasing an unprecedented hat-trick of wins.

But Stimson is now also chasing the historic treble with Stevenage.

He told BBC Sport: "If you had looked at it at the start of the season, with me going onto a new challenge and Grays appointing a new manager, and said we would meet in the semi-finals you would have said it was crazy.

"It would have been great to have been the final but this is the next best thing and I'm looking forward to the two games."

The first leg takes Stimson back to Grays, who he guided to a promotion and Trophy double two years ago before combining last season's success with a place in the Conference play-offs.

His Midas touch has now extended to Stevenage, who are challenging for promotion.

Grays have struggled, using four different managers to fill the void left by Stimson's departure.

The players are now playing for a final place Stevenage boss Mark Stimson

Stevenage, who have scored a league double over Grays this season, start as favourites to progress to their first final since 2002 to meet either Kidderminster or Northwich.

But Stimson is taking nothing for granted as he focuses on taking a healthy lead back to Broadhall Way for the second-leg.

"We won there a couple of weeks ago in the league, but I'm sure this game will be different," he said.

"The players are now playing for a final place and it's about the one which keeps their nerve and their composure."

As well as Stimson's return, three members of his squad will also be facing their old club in Jon Nutter, Jamie Slabber and Mitchell Cole.

Nutter played in both of Grays' final triumphs, while Cole was a 2005 winner before a spell with Southend.

"I'm sure the players who were with me at Grays are looking forward to going back and trying to get the better of them over two games," Stimson added.

The Trophy final could be at the new Wembley, which adds even more spice Mark Stimson

"We have fantastic memories of what we did at Grays in the Trophy.

"Walking out in front of 8,000 fans at Upton Park was fantastic, but you move on and hopefully we can do the same now with Stevenage."

Rival managers Stimson and Justin Edinburgh - who has guided Grays through three rounds of the Trophy since his appointment in January - are both former players at Tottenham, Portsmouth and Southend.

Stimson's enthusiasm for the Trophy has played a major part in his remarkable run of success, which also brought him a winners� medal as a player with Canvey Island in 2001.

He said: "I won it at Canvey and with all the years I had as a pro, that day playing in the final is up there with the top ones and I relay that to the players.

"The Trophy final is live on television and this year it could be at the new Wembley, which adds even more spice to it."

Stimson admits that the Trophy plays second fiddle to promotion from the Conference, especially after losing out with Grays last season in the play-off semi-finals to Halifax.

The play-offs for me is the big one Mark Stimson

"That's the main one, I'm interested in getting Stevenage where they want to be and I want to be, which is the Football League.

"After a frustrating start we have got through to the semi-final of a national competition and into a decent league position.

"The play-offs for me is the big one. If we could get into that it would be fantastic.