THE town of Didcot is buzzing ahead of their historic Emirates FA Cup first-round tie this weekend.

The Railwaymen prepare to welcome Football League opposition for the first time in senior competitive football when Sky Bet League Two side Exeter City visit on Sunday (12noon) – and joint manager Ian Concannon has been overwhelmed by the response.

He said: “Up the town a lot of shops have been decked out in red and white, there are posters up everywhere and we’ve got people coming down to buy tickets all the time.

“There’s a real excitement about the town, and there’s excitement about the club.

“It’s a real big opportunity for the whole town and the club to engage as one and enjoy the day.”

The club expect to sell all 2,800 tickets available for the match, breaking Draycott Engineering Loop Meadow’s previous record of 2,112 set for a 2008 pre-season friendly against Reading.

It’s an environment Concannon believes his side will thrive in.

“If we can get as many people from the town watching us and cheering us on as possible then that’s great,” he said.

“This place will be full to the rafters and if we can show them what we’re all about and put on a good show, hopefully the people that are coming down here for the first time on Sunday will come back and support us.”

As well as a bumper crowd inside the ground, Didcot will be watched by many more at home, with the match being screened live on BT Sport.

Volunteers have been working around the clock to ensure the facilities are up to scratch, making provisions for the crowds and erecting temporary scaffolding for the cameras.

The club are expected to make around £100,000 for their exploits in the competition and Concannon praised the efforts being made to ensure the match is a success.

“We’ve got a very small committee who work extremely hard on and off the pitch,” he said.

“They’ve really had both hands on deck in the last ten days or so, getting everything ready and getting the venue right and getting sponsorship and all sorts of things.

“They’ve worked extremely hard, so it’s a reward for those people, just as it is for the players, that we can stage this occasion.

“We’ve got some elderly supporters who played for us many, many years ago and they come week in, week out, rain or shine, thick or thin, and it’s just important for them that they enjoy the occasion.

“It’s for everybody.”