BROMSGROVE ROVERS face a big FA Cup game at home to Stourbridge on Saturday (3pm) and it will be a case of familiarity for the management of both teams.

Bromsgrove boss John Snape played for Stourbridge in the 1980s and the Glassboys’ joint managerial duo Gary Hackett and Jon Ford were formerly in charge at the Victoria Ground.They were surprisingly sacked in 2003 despite leading the Greens to promotion from the Midland Alliance and third place in their present division.

Snape admits their will be an edge to the tie, particularly because so much is at stake and the two clubs and personnel have crossed paths a lot in recent years.

He said: “The FA Cup games are always big but this one has so much going for it because of the connections between the two clubs.

“It’s been a long time since I was at Stourbridge and I don’t know many people there other than the secretary Hugh Clark but it is always nice to play them.

“It will be a tough game, no doubt about it as they are at a higher level and have had a decent start to the season, but then so have we, and obviously we are at home.”

Snape was due to sign Stuart Hall from Midland Combination outfit Fairfield Villa this week.

Hall has scored over 100 goals in 150 appearances for Villa and will add firepower to the front line.

He was sweating on the fitness of Rapinder Gill and Marlon Walters, though Walters played in the 0-0 draw at Arlesey Town on Saturday.

Snape said of the game: “Marlon came through it quite well and I was fairly pleased with the point, albeit against ten men for part of the game.

“We had a bout of travel sickness on the coach which affected three players and then we had a few injury worries so in all it wasn’t a bad result considering.”

Danny Scheppell made his debut after signing from Evesham and Snape was giving fitness tests to a number of players in the Central Conference game at Atherstone last night.

He was hoping James Hancox would be available to play on Saturday but Luke Findlay is a definite doubt.

There will be a fundraising raffle for defender Ollie O’Connell before the game after he got injured during a pre-season friendly and is out for a year.