Chris Giles knows all about the positive impact a good run in the FA Trophy can have.
That is why he has urged Crawley to ensure there are no slip-ups in tomorrow's second round clash against Worcester City at The Broadfield.
Giles picked up a winners' medal with Yeovil in 2002 after a 2-0 win at Villa Park against a Stevenage side which included Reds midfielder Simon Wormull.
He also reached the semi-finals in 2004 with Aldershot.
Both cup runs went hand-in-hand with good league seasons - Yeovil finished third and Aldershot reached the play-off final.
Giles reckons a good Trophy campaign would be the boost Reds need to get out of Conference relegation trouble.
He said: "The FA Trophy is a brilliant competition, it is the FA Cup of the nonleague game. I would never want to play for a team who didn't want to win it.
"You have the chance of playing in front of 20,000 fans in a great stadium and there is revenue from it as well, so every player should want to do well.
"It can also help you in the league.
Winning games builds momentum and a good cup run lifts the whole club."
Giles has experienced the lows in the Trophy as well as the highs. His Yeovil side went out to Unibond League Burscough the year after their Villa Park triumph.
He was on the wrong end of another upset two years later when Aldershot surprisingly lost to Dr Martens side Hednesford.
Reds appear to have been given a kind draw against Worcester, who are fourth bottom in Conference north with only four wins this season, but Giles insists they cannot be taken lightly.
He said: "People may think we should win but I think it is 50-50. I obviously fancy our chances but that is just because I'm playing for Crawley.
"Worcester are a decent side and like in any cup match, there is no way of saying who is going to win.
"The year after I won it with Yeovil we were knocked out by Burscough and with Aldershot we drew Hednesford and were knocked out, so there is no chance we can say we have a good draw."
Reds chief John Hollins knows Worcester player-boss Andy Preece from their time managing clubs in the north-west.
Hollins was in the hot-seat at Rochdale, while Preece was in charge of Bury and he knows the former Crystal Palace striker will relish causing an upset.
He said: "I don't want to be the favourites, I like being the underdog where everything you do is a surprise.
They will be looking to take a scalp and will make it difficult for us.
"I know the manager very well. When I was up at Rochdale I used to watch Bury play.
"He was a young manager but did some very good things for them. He kept them afloat under very difficult circumstances.
"He is a pretty experienced young manager and I'm sure he will have a few surprises for me."
Reds will be without defender Dave Woozley, who serves the last of a threematch ban.
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