Harborough Town Striker Plans Video Game Preparation for Historic Reading FA Cup Match

Harborough Town striker Tendai Daire has announced his intention to prepare for the FA Cup second-round away fixture against Reading by familiarizing himself with the League One club in the virtual realm. This encounter with the Royals, a team that competed in the Premier League just 11 years ago, is poised to be the most significant match in the Leicestershire club’s history. The seventh-tier side has achieved this tie by securing five victories in the competition, navigating through the qualifying rounds, and making a historic first-round appearance. Daire has been an integral part of the Bees’ impressive run, but he quickly noted that he has never previously come close to playing against such high-profile opposition. When asked if he had ever played at a venue comparable to Reading’s 24,000-capacity ground, the forward chuckled as he responded: “Only on Fifa, so no I haven’t.” He added, “It’s something I look forward to and I’m sure everyone at the club will be looking forward to it. It’s amazing. I’ll be [playing] on Fifa and I’ll be looking on Google and doing what I need to do to be prepared and ready.” The Southern League Premier Central club has no prior experience facing an English Football League (EFL) side in a competitive match. They secured a 4-1 victory over fellow non-league team Tonbridge Angels on Saturday, marking the Bees’ inaugural appearance in the FA Cup first round. Post-match celebrations in Kent were jubilant on Saturday, with similar scenes unfolding a day later at the Bees’ clubhouse in Market Harborough, where players, staff, and supporters watched live as they were drawn against Reading. “It was bouncing in there – we are all over the moon. What a draw. It’s special,” Daire informed BBC Radio Leicester. He continued, “When Reading came out, it was just joy. And now, you can tell with my voice, I’m like a kid at Christmas, I’m so excited.” Daire further commented, “We have done what we needed to around the local leagues, and we wanted the big test against a League One team where we can go out there and test ourselves and enjoy it.” The FA Cup second round matches are scheduled to be played between Friday, 29 November and Monday, 2 December 2024.