Sheppey United boss Ernie Batten hoping FA Cup dream becomes reality with side a win away from First Round proper and likes of Derby County, Bolton Wanderers, Charlton Athletic and Gillingham

Sheppey United are dreaming big after their FA Cup exploits in Wales.

Their reward for beating Merthyr Town last Saturday is an away trip to Isthmian Premier side Billericay Town in the fourth and final qualifying round of the competition. Win that and they’re in the First Round proper, alongside clubs from the bottom two divisions of the Football League.

It’s an historic FA Cup run for the club - they’ve never been this far before in more than 100 years - allowing them to dream of what could be around the corner.

Manager Ernie Batten said: “The First Round is where we want to get to, it’s everyone’s dream, you are entering dreamland now.

“We have an opportunity by winning the next round the potential to play League 1 and League 2 clubs, teams like Derby County. Could you imagine them at home!? Bolton Wanderers, Charlton, Gillingham, there are a number of teams which would be unbelievable, that’s the dream.”

The next round at Billericay is set to take place on Saturday, October 14. They avoided the National League clubs and, like Merthyr Town before, are facing a side one level above them in the football pyramid.

“Anybody we play at this stage is going to be a massive challenge,” said Batten. “We just wanted to play someone where we had a chance to progress.”

Prize money continues to increase as the Ites march on. There’s £9,375 for winning teams and £3,125 for losing sides in the next round and it all helps at Holm Park, having had to start the season by reducing the players’ wages.

“It all helps,” said Batten, who is also part-owner of the club.

“With Matt (Smith, the chairman) leaving we lost some sponsorship at the start of the season and I had to go to the players and ask them if they would be willing to take a