WITH more than 70 years of Highworth Town support under their belts, you might have thought Fred and Cath Harman would take Saturday’s FA Vase clash with a pinch of salt.

But you would be wrong.

They don’t hold back in saying the visit of Yorkshire’s Tadcaster Albion in the FA Vase quarter-final is the biggest game in the club’s history.

The Worthians are three matches away from a trip to Wembley, after coming through six rounds of the national competition to reach the last-eight.

Fred, 85, and Cath, 76, of Queens Avenue, are both born and bred in the town and have followed The Elms side home and away all their lives.

The husband and wife will be in attendance on Saturday along with between 600 and 700 others at 3pm.

“We grew up supporting the football club. We were born and raised here, so it’s always been in our blood,” said Fred, who once worked in motor manufacturing.

“This is the biggest game the club has ever had. In all my time watching them, they’ve never gotten this far.

“We are all hoping to see them progress into what would be an even bigger game in the semis.”

In his 80-plus years following his beloved red-and-blacks, Fred has never visited the West London home of football and he knows time is not on his side if he is to achieve the feat.

“It would be great if they made it to Wembley,” he said.

“I have travelled to every game on this cup run, home or away, and that would just be great to see them in the big stadium.

“Especially at my age, it would be great to see that.

“We have had good runs in the FA Cup, but nothing like this.”

Should Highworth draw on Saturday, they will face a replay and a long trip north to Tadcaster, which Fred has already committed to, despite his age.

In his travails on this cup run, he said the away win on penalties at Tunbridge Wells was a particular highlight.

He has not always been a fan alone. In his younger days, Fred would regularly assist with the running of the club, helping to put up the nets in the goal, for instance.

It’s the friendliness and community spirit of the club which has always kept him coming back.

“It’s a friendly place. We have a good clubhouse up there and a very welcoming atmosphere,” he said.

“I wouldn’t like to say I am the longest-serving fan, but I am certainly one of the oldest.”