PETERSFIELD Town’s record breaking run in the Emirates FA Cup is proof the Rams have become a proper football club, according to manager Ian Saunders.

The Rams boss was talking ahead of Saturday’s Third Qualifying Round tie at Love Lane against St Albans City – arguably the biggest game in the club’s history to date.

Petersfield stand just two matches away from the First Round proper and potentially drawing a Football League club including Portsmouth.

Victory on Saturday would put the Rams in the Fourth Qualifying Round, where National League sides such as Aldershot Town enter the competition.

All of that is for the future but the club’s step up into the Southern League this season, coupled with their FA Cup exploits, has announced Petersfield’s arrival among the ranks of serious non-league football clubs in England.

“The small achievement we have had this year in the FA Cup, so far, is fantastic for us all, but mainly for the club’s image as a proper football club,”explained Saunders.

“Winning football matches is a great habit to get into and so far the one-off cup fixtures have been our release from the difficulties of settling into step four football. Hopefully, we can start to transform the cup form into league points.

“This cup run just adds to some fantastic memories I have shared with this football club.”