When your home town club informs you at 16 that you will not make the grade as a professional footballer it can be a crushing blow for many youngsters, but the folklore of the FA Cup is littered with tales of such decisions returning to haunt the clubs concerned.

On Sunday, before a packed Meadow Park ground and millions watching on Sky TV, Kerry Dixon will be attempting to spirit Wood past the challenge of his former team Luton Town and into the second round for the third year running.

Although he returned later in his career to play nearly 100 times for the Hatters, Dixon built on the pain of his early rejection to climb football's ladder to the very top, culminating in four goals in eight appearances for England, being part of his country's squad for the Mexico World Cup in 1986.

I asked Kerry if this pairing with Luton was the dream draw he had wanted? "I've mixed feelings about it really" he replied, "I have a pub in Dunstable and many of the people there are Luton supporters

"I was born in Luton and was at the club from 11 to 16 before they told me that I wasn't good enough. I eventually got to play for them when I was 31, and it gave me a lot of pleasure to do so...I stayed two years.

"As far as drawing them in the cup goes, it's a similar situation to when I was with Luton and we played Chelsea in the semi-final at Wembley in 1994."

Dixon had enjoyed immense success with the Blues, becoming something of a Stamford Bridge icon, so he described the reception given to him by Chelsea fans that afternoon as "the most emotional day of my football life", although ironically it was to deny him his only true opportunity to play in a FA Cup final.

After resigning as player-manager with Doncaster Rovers 15 months ago, Dixon was introduced to Wood by director Paul Moriarty, immediately being installed as player-coach, and the team has certainly reflected his influence in their style of play since. How much did he know about the current Luton side? "Plenty, there's lots of people from my time still there.

"Some of those boys were in the side that beat us 6-1 at home in pre-season, and that will be in the back of their minds, but it's a cup game, and anything can happen."

What chance did he give Wood of causing one of the upsets of the round?

"We're very much the underdogs in the tie, despite the fact we're at home, but we also know there will be some shocks and I'd love to think that we could turn them over. Realistically, things have got to be 80 per cent in Luton's favour, and we'll have our work cut out -- but who knows? That 20 per cent might come into play, but we'll have to be right on top of our form. Every player will have to be at his best."

Wood have yet to beat a Football League club in senior competition. Surely now, it is a case of Time Gentlemen, please!

Wood were beaten narrowly by Luton at Kenilworth Road in the second round two years ago, and Hatters Manager Lennie Lawrence wrote in his programme notes then that it was Wood's "place in the sun".

Bob Makin's team will be hoping to rain on the Town parade this Sunday, as their classic collection of a market trader, fireman, printer, telecom engineer, and yes, a pub landlord with a bit of 'previous' hope to give the public what it wants - a good old fashioned giant killing.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.