IT'S ONE EL OF A CUP DREAM

GEORGE ELOKOBI used to cut grass and split wood to earn money so he could watch screenings of FA Cup games when he was a young boy growing up in Cameroon.

- Matt Badcock

It’s a famous competition he has now competed in as a player – even once scoring a hat-trick for Braintree – and also managed a team to the third round.

On Saturday, the 37-yearold’s Maidstone United take on League One Stevenage looking to create more memories.

The National League South Stones’ second-round win over Barrow created headlines across the county and world, including in Elokobi’s hometown of Kumbu where his football journey began at St Joseph’s College Sasse – and watching Manchester United on TV.

“You had to pay to catch those games so you’d have to do lots of chores to save money,” the former Wolves and Nottingham Forest defender says. “The cost was 10p – at the time 100 CFA – and I had to work.

“I had to work countless hours, helping people, local neighbours. Sometimes I would cut their lawns. But using a machete to cut the grass instead of a lawn mower. You’d have to split wood for people to get paid 1p and you kept saving it.

“When those matches came by you could go and catch the game. We used to call it a mini cinema. If you didn’t have the finances, you couldn’t watch the game. We weren’t privileged to have the satellite so it was only these mini cinemas. It was tough.

“So whenever I am playing in the FA Cup, I want to do well for myself as an individual but also the team.”