How fifth-tier Tamworth plan to cause an FA Cup giant-killing against Tottenham - and the surprise that awaits for Son and Co, writes MATT BARLOW
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Inside the Lamb, they were thinking about giving the away dressing room a fresh lick of paint. Just to smarten the place up for their illustrious FA Cup visitors from Tottenham Hotspur and a live television broadcast. Not that there is anything wrong with Tamworth’s home for the last 91 years. It has all the homespun charm and tidy intimacy you would expect of an upwardly mobile amateur club, but they have risen quickly to the fifth tier after back-to-back promotions and cannot boast the luxury to which Spurs are accustomed in the Premier League.
![[The homespun National League ground is a far cry from what the away supporters are used to]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/11/22/93999223-14274539-image-a-7_1736634807314.jpg)
‘It’s literally Portakabins,’ says centre back Haydn Hollis and his smile indicates he is fully aware that if the part-timers of Tamworth in the National League are to cause any problems for a team 95 places higher in the footballing pyramid, then these sorts of things are going to help.
![[But the FA Cup minnows are hoping that the unsettling surroundings hand them the advantage]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/11/22/93999201-14274539-image-a-8_1736634813284.jpg)
‘There’s no central heating in the home or away changing rooms. It’s freezing, there’s a little heater between 20 lads. The pitch is terrible, not like one of those grass pitches where teams can pop you off the park. The fans are right on top of you. It’s not what they’re used to and that is a test of their professionalism and mentality.’.
![[Tamworth booked their place in the third round after winning a penalty shoot-out against Burton Albion last month]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/11/22/93999199-14274539-image-a-9_1736634827269.jpg)
Captain Ben Milnes admits that the showers are not up to much, either. ‘It’s not the power shower they’ll be used to,’ he says. ‘I’m guessing only a few showers will work in the away dressing room because only a few work in the home one.’.
![[Peaks - who is set to become a full-time manager next month - is hopeful of a giant-killing]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/11/22/93999339-14274539-image-a-11_1736634946732.jpg)
The prospect of James Maddison and Son Heung-min shivering inside a cramped, windowless cabin makes this the tie of the round for FA Cup romantics. Mighty Tottenham, eight times winners of the trophy, descending on a Staffordshire town hitherto famous for a couple of escaped pigs and Spud Man, a social media sensation selling jacket potatoes.
![[After sharpening up their squad three years ago, Peaks has led the side through the choppy waters of surviving relegation and winning promotion]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/11/22/93999327-14274539-image-a-12_1736634949863.jpg)
