JOHN Coleman always gets a bit green-eyed at this time of year.

Since taking over at Accrington Stanley in May 1999, he has desperately tried to get the Reds into the FA Cup first round, attracting all the glamour and media madness that comes with it.

After Stanley dispatched of Leigh RMI 2-0 in the fourth qualifying round almost two weeks ago, finally, it is his turn.

"I've never been in the first round as a manager," said Coleman.

"I've been in it a couple of times as a player but, as a manager, I've always cast envious glances at other people who are having their moment of glory.

"So it's nice for us to have our chance this week."

But Coleman, who has done countless newspaper, television and radio interviews in the build-up to Sunday's game televised FA Cup first round clash with Huddersfield Town, is adamant that it's only their most important one because it's their most immediate.

"We've got a saying that the next game we play is the most important," he said.

"We're not trying to be blase about it but that's the case.

"Once Sunday's gone Hereford will be a massive game. Thankfully now we're in the Conference these games come along quite regularly."

However, he admitted the game was taking a different slant to a regular league tie.

"It's not just another game and you can't think of it as another game because it's totally different," he said.

"There's a big media focus, we're playing on a Sunday, with a one o'clock kick-off and for that couple of house on Sunday we'll be that focal point.

"It's different, and we'll approach it differently.

"That's not saying that we won't try any harder or try to do things on the pitch differently or try to win.

"We'll try to play to our strengths and if we do that and we all perform well we'll give them a good game."

Coleman will be hoping to add to his current FA Cup claim to fame of scoring the fastest hat-trick in the competition.

The Reds boss struck three times in just four minutes Morecambe's 6-2 win over Gainsborough in 1994, but that doesn't go down as his favourite game.

"My favourite FA Cup game that I played in was for Southport against Emley and I scored two in the last couple of minutes and we got a 4-4 draw," the Reds boss said.

And while Coleman, who is still registered as a Stanley player, admits it would be tempting to lace up his boots for Saturday, he added: "It would be lovely to play but I've had my day and hopefully these lads will have theirs."