‘It was the best moment of my life – everyone to this day still asks about it’ – Hawks’ Anfield goalscorer Richard Pacquette

And he is hoping Paul Doswell's current squad can create an FA Cup storyline of their own at the club close to his heart this season.

Pacquette was at the centre of the Hawks' run to the fourth round and an unforgettable trip to Anfield back in 2008.

It was a day that provided the striker with the 'best moment of his life' as he headed the visitors ahead in front of the Kop with 80 of his family and friends watching from the stands.

The Hawks would go onto to lead for a second time on a surreal afternoon before eventually suffering a 5-2 against Rafa Benitez's Premier League giants.

Until this season, that remained the only time they'd made it past the first round since the club were formed in 1998.

But that all changed when Doswell's side limped to a 1-0 win over two-divisions lower Cray Valley Paper Mills earlier this month at Westleigh Park.

Ironically, the drew threw up another trip to Liverpool - only this time they'll be facing Northern Premier League North West outfit Marine FC as they bid to put themselves in the hat for a potential date with one of the Premier League big boys.

And knowing all too well what a massive FA Cup occasion feels like, Pacquette will be willing on his former side.

‘It was great to be a part of (Hawks' FA Cup run),' he told The News.

‘A lot of Havant fans still follow me on Twitter and we keep in contact on there.

‘I still follow the club results. I was there for two-and-a-half years and it’s still got a place in my heart.

‘It’s a good club, hopefully they get into the third round and some of these players can be part of the history books in the FA Cup for Havant.

‘It was the best moment of my life (scoring at Anfield) and it was in front of the Kop and to take the lead as well.

‘To be fair, I was confident going into the game that if I got a chance I would score. I was just waiting for that chance which came and I took it.

‘Everyone to this day still asks about it and how the feeling must have been crazy.

‘I brought about 80 tickets myself for friends and family.

‘It’s a great feeling and you can’t put words on it. The whole day, the build-up to the game and even after.

‘We even got a great reception when we went to the Man United v Tottenham game the following day at Old Trafford. The reception we got going there, it was a great experience.

‘It was a great achievement.'

National League South Hawks head into the second round tie against opposition from two leagues below as hot favourites.

That's something which Pacquette and the club were not accustomed to on the run to round four in 2007/08.

After reaching the first round, they overcame then-Conference Premier side York City and League Two Notts County - both 1-0 away from home - before defeating League One Swansea 4-2 in a Westleigh Park replay in front of 4,400.

That earned Shaun Gale's side an Anfield date, and the rest is history.

But it’s been a different story Hawks this season as Marine will be the fourth side - in five rounds - that they have faced from a lower division. The only exception was a fourth qualifying round trip to NSL rivals Bath City.

‘We did it the hard way (in 2007-08),' Pacquette explained.

‘When you play teams from leagues below it’s always sticky because they’re going to raise their game.

‘Even though you go into the game thinking you should win, nothing is a given in this competition, as everyone knows.

‘I think Havant have just got to go in and play the game and try to beat them the best they can.

‘I know they will be successful if they go into it with the right attitude and the right mentality.

‘I know Bairdy (Ian Baird) and Dos (Paul Doswell) will be drumming that into the boys and I’m sure they will see it as a big opportunity to get to the third round and get someone big.'

Pacquette, at 37, is now in the twilight of his playing days and is currently a player/coach with South Midlands League Premier Division side Harefield United, who are based in Uxbridge.

He still looks out for his old club's results and managed to catch up with some supporters when he watched a league game at St Albans last season.

‘There’s a few I follow on Twitter (supporters),' said Pacquette.

‘Last season I went to St Albans. There were a few there that day and I was in the stands with them and having a chat.

‘Some of the young ones were kids when I was playing at Havant and now they’re adults, so it was nice to see them.

'When I was at Havant I always spoke with the fans and all the young boys and had a lot of time for them. They all remember that and we always keep in contact on social media.

‘There are a nice set of people down at Havant.

‘My fingers are crossed, hopefully they go and do the job and get a big one in the third round.'