Former Pompey defender Mark Stimson aims to continue his FA Trophy love affair

The defender made over 50 appearances for the Blues after joining for £100,000 from Newcastle in 1993 after a short loan period.

After dropping into non-league football, Stimson amazingly won the Trophy four times in seven seasons.

He first lifted the silverware as a player, helping Canvey Island defeat Forest Green Rovers in the 2001 final at Villa Park.

Then he rewrote the record books by becoming the first manager to win the Trophy three years running.

Stimson guided Grays to victories in 2004/05 and 2005/06 before repeating the feat with Stevenage Borough in the first final played at the new Wembley in 2006/07.

His midas touch continued two years later when he returned to Wembley as Gillingham’s manager to win the League 2 play-off final against Shrewsbury.

Returning to non-league, Stimson managed Kettering, Thurrock and Waltham Abbey before taking over at Hornchurch in November 2018.

The Essex club host Maidstone United this weekend aiming to reach the quarter-finals of the Trophy.

They are one of just two ‘non-elite’ league clubs to have reached the last 16 - meaning they have only played Trophy ties since the beginning of November.

The Urchins are aiming to knock out higher division opposition for the fourth round in a row.

After winning at Hawks’ National League South rivals Dulwich and Tonbridge, they dumped out two divisions higher King’s Lynn in the fourth round last month.

After a 1-1 draw, Urchins keeper Joe Wright pulled off three penalty saves as the Isthmian League Premier side won 3-0 in a shoot-out.

Hornchurch, managed by former Pompey player Mark Stimson,

Beat two divisions higher Kings Lynn 3-0 on penalties after a 1-1 draw

Stimson’s son, Mark, is part of his father’s squad while Hornchurch also boast Sam Higgins, who scored 11 goals in the NL South for Chelmsford last season.

Peterborough Sports, from the Southern League Premier Central division - like Hornchurch, a step 3 club - are the other ‘non-elite’ side in the last 16.

Due to their league’s suspension, they have only played five Trophy ties since their last league game on October 17 - the best part of four months ago now.

Peterborough travel to NL South side Oxford City this weekend.

Torquay United, meanwhile, are aiming to become only the fourth club to complete the non-league ‘double’ since the top flight was formed in 1979.

Gary Johnson’s Gulls are nine points clear at the top of the National League, though Sutton have three games in hand, and travel to NL North club Southport in the Trophy.

Wealdstone (1985), Colchester (1992) and Wycombe (1993) are the only three clubs to have completed the double.

Wealdstone benefited from a novel points system introduced by the Conferencein 1983 of three points for an away win and two for a home victory.

If the conventional system had been applied to 1984-85, Wealdstone would have finished third but, instead, 12 away wins helped the Stones to the title!

FA Trophy fifth round draw: Sutton v Woking, Aldershot v Chesterfield, Darlington v Wealdstone, Hereford v Leamington, Southport v Torquay, Oxford City v Peterborough Sports, Hornchurch v Maidstone United, Hawks v Notts County (1pm).