FA Cup: Maldon & Tiptree's Jack Cawley parking his cab for cup glory

Maldon & Tiptree captain Jack Cawley says he has relished the task of juggling life as a black cab driver with their run to the FA Cup first round.

The eighth-tier minnows - the lowest-ranked club left in the competition - will attempt to shock League One opponents Port Vale at Vale Park on Sunday having already won six ties to get this far.

The Maldon squad includes several players with experience of the English Football League and above including Freddie Sears, Macaulay Bonne, Gary Hooper, Anthony Wordsworth and Tom Eastman, as well as some exciting youngsters.

And Cawley, who played at clubs such as Bromley and Maidstone before going part time, is loving leading the group.

He told BBC Essex: "It's crazy, a lot of the boys have been professional their whole lives so are used to coming in at the first or third round so for them to come in at the extra preliminary round, it's a bit mad for them.

"A lot of the boys are part time at this level of football so have jobs on top. Some of the lads who have just come out of the professional game have the luxury of not having to do that and it's a brilliant mix."

He added: "To captain them is enjoyable, a lot of the boys have played at a lot higher level than I have so to take that experience on is brilliant.

"I am standing there trying to say 'do this, do that' but they have played higher than me. They understand I am trying to do it in the right way.

"When I was full time with football it was a lot and now the balance is right, I get to see my kids a lot now I am part time.

"Juggling the both is enjoyable. The last couple of weeks the game has been on my mind while I am drving the cab."

Maldon & Tiptree have been making waves at their Isthmian League North Division level since Barrie and Scott Drewitt-Barlow finalised a "multi-million pound" takeover at the start of 2025.

They are currently top of the table with 31 points from 12 games, two points clear of second-placed Felixstowe & Walton United, and are bidding to reach round two of the FA Cup for only the second time in their history.

Their match in the Potteries is live on television on TNT Sports on Sunday (15:00 GMT) and radio commentary will also be available on BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app.

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