‘Non-league football is on the up – teams are better organised, better coached’ – Marine boss Neil Young ahead of FA Cup tie with Hawks

The Hawks travel to Liverpool to face their two-divisions lower hosts in front of the BT Sport cameras on Sunday with both clubs bidding to reach the third round for only the second time in their history.

Hawks and Marine are two of a record-equalling 14 non-league teams still standing in the competition in the second round stage - 10 of whom defeated EFL opposition to get there.

Marine were one of those, having stunned four tiers higher Colchester United - from League 2 - on penalties in Essex.

The Merseysiders, who play in the Northern Premier League North West, are one of two eighth tier clubs still in the FA Cup - along with Canvey Island of the Isthmian League South East.

Both are aiming to follow in the footsteps of Staffordshire club Chasetown, who in 2007/08 became the first - and so far only - eighth tier club to reach the third round proper.

To put that into context, Moneyfields are currently playing in the eighth tier.

Ahead of hosting the National League South Hawks, who sit 43 places above them in the league pyramid, Young highlighted the incredible quality of players and teams in the non-league game.

'It's 14 teams that have got through to this stage (from non-league),' he said.

‘For that to happen, non-league football - as we know anyway because we’re involved in it - is certainly on the up.

‘There are a lot of good footballers in non-league football and a lot of good clubs.

'I think very similar to higher up the divisions, teams now are a lot more organised, a lot better coached.

‘I always say there have been great non-league sides around, but I believe there are more better sides now. You used to have four or five whipping boys in a league, you don’t get that now.

‘You still have your elite teams, teams that are better, but now you have more better teams which is showing in the FA Cup runs.'

The Hawks are aiming to avoid becoming the fourth team from a higher division Marine have knocked out of the FA Cup this term.

Nantwich Town, Young's former club Chester and Colchester have all fallen victim to the eighth tier minnows.

But Young insists the tie provides a great opportunity to both his side and Hawks to put themselves in with a chance of a 'massive' draw.

‘It’s great for both football clubs. We’ve both been given this opportunity so hopefully we can progress and, as the manager of Marine, obviously I want to progress,' he added.

‘But if it was to be Havant to progress, I would pass all my best on that they got the best possible draw that they could.

'It’s massive to get to a potentially third round draw, you don’t know who you could get.

‘You could draw an elite Premier League team or you could draw a football league team, who knows.'