Seventh-tier Berkhamsted's manager is keeping his squad away from the FA Cup second round draw, calling the build-up a distraction.
Berkhamsted's players won't be gathering around a screen when the FA Cup second round balls are pulled out. Their manager has made it clear the squad will be kept away from the draw, which he sees as an unnecessary distraction.
For a seventh-tier side, reaching this stage of the world's oldest football competition is a huge achievement. The draw is usually when non-league dreams get loud, with supporters and players picturing bigger opponents, bigger crowds and a bigger payday. Berkhamsted's boss wants none of that noise in his dressing room.
The thinking is simple: the draw doesn't change the work that has to be done on the pitch. Whoever comes out of the bag, the players still have league commitments and a squad to keep sharp. Cup fever can creep into a group quickly, and the manager would rather his players stay locked in on the next match than on who might be waiting in the next round.
It's a contrast to the usual draw-day ritual, when clubs of all sizes gather to watch and react in real time. Berkhamsted will find out their fate, but the players will hear it only after the moment has passed, with their focus intact.
