DAVE FORBES has found himself behind enemy lines after Chester were handed an FA Cup tie against City of Liverpool.

Attacker Forbes, 30, will have to fend off some banter from his Blacon High School pupils after the Blues were drawn against his City of Liverpool side in the second qualifying round of the famous competition.

The two teams will go head-to-head in nine days time at the Swansway Stadium, a venue Forbes certainly knows how to find given his day job.

"I was on lunch duty at the time of the draw," said PE teacher Forbes. "I was aware the draw was at 1pm and then I got a text saying we'd got Chester. I replied with 'No way?'

"I checked the draw myself after that message and what a draw.

"As a club we were looking at the draw in two ways. You either want a team at our level that we could beat because the prize money will help the club, or you want a big club.

"Before the draw I said that York or Chester away would be fantastic in terms of bigger teams that we could face.

"I'm getting on a bit now, so to have the chance to play Chester is fantastic."

While teams higher up the football food chain might have lost touch with the FA Cup, for clubs like North West Counties outfit City of Liverpool, who were only founded three years ago, the chance to rub shoulders with Chester still represents a magic moment.

"It will be a great day for us," said Forbes. "We will be going to Chester to enjoy the occasion and hopefully we can make it a fantastic day by getting a result.

"We've got some great supporters, it's a fantastic following which is unheard of at our level and hopefully we go to Chester and make some noise on and off the pitch.

"The publicity you get and the buzz the squad gets from games like the one we've been given only helps the club."

Forbes is no stranger to an FA Cup run, the former Connah's Quay, Cefn Druids and Rhyl man reaching the first round of the competition with Nantwich last season.

The Dabbers were beaten 5-0 by League Two Stevenage, Forbes stepping off the bench to play the final 15 minutes of the tie.

"I've got something of a love affair with the FA Cup," he said. "It was fantastic to reach the first round proper last season, we did so well.

"Funnily enough, when I was at Nantwich we knocked City of Liverpool out of the FA Cup. It was quite interesting as I'd been at City of Liverpool the season before."

While Forbes is trying to knock Chester out of the competition in nine days time, he might have a way of repaying the Blues with his work in the region.

Forbes is currently in charge of Blacon High School's year nine football team, as well as Chester Schoolboys Under-14s, meaning that the next Tom Crawford might not be too far away.

"It's fantastic to be working with some of the most gifted and talented footballers in the region," continued Forbes. "Tom was an ex-student, so the school have helped produce a talented footballer.

"Hopefully there can be many more pupils follow in Tom's footsteps."

And Crawford is not the only reason Forbes has been following the Blues closely, the Ellesmere Port resident adding: "I know Gary Roberts, who is captain of the club and the two managers are someone I've been keeping a close eye on.

"What Tom and Gary have done for the Blacon community is fantastic."