DEBENHAM Leisure Centre have missed out this season on a chance to cash in on the FA Cup.They have a home Ridgeons League Premier Division game against Histon's second string tomorrow after their automated applications to enter both the FA Cup and the FA Vase went awry.

Elvin King

DEBENHAM Leisure Centre have missed out this season on a chance to cash in on the FA Cup.

They have a home Ridgeons League Premier Division game against Histon's second string tomorrow after their automated applications to enter both the FA Cup and the FA Vase went awry.

“We appealed to the Football Association to no avail,” said manager Mel Aldis.

“It would have been nice, but it isn't going to happen so we have moved on. It is one of those things.”

Two seasons ago Debenham had a run in the FA Cup and, after a home game against AFC Wimbledon, made a lot of money.

“Yes, we made thousands that year,” said Aldis. “But last season we were knocked out in the first round and ended up losing �150.”

Having zoomed up from junior football to the top division in East Anglia inside six years, Debenham are in unknown territory.

But Aldis says they have made a promising start with a 2-0 win over King's Lynn reserves and a rather unfortunate 2-1 defeat by Hadleigh United. “They are two teams we can match, and I feel we can surprise one or two of the top sides,” added Aldis, who is in his 20th season as manager having become Framlingham Town player manager in 1988.

Every player who helped Debenham gain promotion last season has re-signed, while Aldis has brought onboard Albanian-born midfielder Leuvit Druro, 16-year-old Kiefer Bultitude who scored both goals at Lynn, David Ford (from Felixstowe) and Ed Cussons (from Diss).