HARRY Lightbown is a master of the understatement.

The age-old football saying, the clich to end all clichs,"to take each game as it comes," could have been his own.

While the rest of soccer leaps from cloud to cloud on an FA Cup high, Bamber Bridge kit man Harry is taking a 'feet firmly on ground' approach.

Bridge may be the focus of country's attention as they prepare for tomorrow's second round clash with Nationwide Division Two side Cambridge United, Harry is playing it down!

"I have been asked if it is the biggest game for the club since I have been here," says Harry. "Two weeks ago the game against St. Albans was the biggest, now this is.

"If we get into the third round, that will be the biggest game and so on right up to the final. If we get that far, I don't think there will be much doubt about it!"

Harry, who lives in Rishton, has been at Irongate for three years since following former manager Martin Eatough from Great Harwood.

In that time he has seen the club struggle through two seasons of mediocrity, before a surprise FA Cup run made the team the shock stars of this year's competition. "We hadn't done too well before this year, but all of a sudden things are looking up, to say the least.

"Sky TV were at training the other day and the whole place is buzzing with excitement. Everyone is up for it and if Cambridge think they are going to have an easy ride on Saturday, they had better think again.

"Everyone knows that the cup provides upsets, hardly a round goes by without someone biting the dust and you go into every tie as an underdog hoping that it's your turn."

Bridge were in the headlines for all the wrong reasons after their shock upset win over St Alban's.

"There was an incident at the end of the game when a few players got too excited and a fight broke out. It wasn't pretty but I think it was over-reported a bit."

The fracas started after the sending off of Wayne Maddock, who will now miss the Cambridge clash.

But Harry reckons Bridge - certain to have vociferous backing from their enthusiastic band of supporters - can win through despite Maddock's suspension.

"Every team has their 15 minutes of fame. We are just hoping to make it about six more months, that's all!"

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