Pinchbeck United’s Alfie Tate wrote himself into Emirates FA Cup history last week.
The Pinchbeck caretaker manager, who is 20, became the youngest manager in the 149-year history of the competition in Wednesday’s game against St Neots Town.
The Knights lost the game 4-0 at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field (see story, above) which Tate admits that he’d “swap” for the record.
But the young first team coach got a taste of the big time in the build up to the game, with Sky Sports News sending a reporter down to the Sir Halley to talk to him.
He was given live airtime on the channel on the day of the game, something he admits that he’d like to do on a regular basis later in his fledgling career.
For now, he’ll have to settle for having his picture and achievement in the match programme for this year’s FA Cup final – no mean feat.
“It was slightly different to talking to you and the local press,” quipped Tate. “Obviously it was quite a surreal moment for me – both the achievement and being on Sky Sports.
“I’m very proud of the achievement. I’d obviously have been more proud if we got the win, I’d have 100 per cent swapped it.
“Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case and the result was a disappointing one.
“I think somebody spoke to the FA Cup Factfile (@FACupFactfile) account on Twitter and asked the question about me perhaps setting a record.
“Then, they (Sky) dropped me a message and I thought ‘bloody hell’.
“When Sky turned up things became a bit more real, but the whole thing was very surprising really.
“It was obviously quite nerve-wracking at the same time, but also a good experience for me.
“I want to be at that level that would see me talking to Sky Sports every week, so it’s a little taste of that world really.
“When I spoke to the guys at FA Factfile, they said there was a chance I’d get a mention in the 2021 FA Cup final match programme – that would be really nice.
“It wouldn’t be bad to buy and FA Cup final programme and see your face and a few comments in there, that’d be a real bonus.”
Prior to Tate, James Phillips was the youngest FA Cup boss in history. He was 22 when he managed Romsey Town against Fareham Town back in 2014.
