91Èȱ¬

Harborough Town striker Tendai Daire says he will prepare for the FA Cup second-round trip to Reading by getting acquainted with the League One club in the virtual world.

Taking on the Royals, who were playing in the Premier League just 11 years ago, will be the biggest match in the Leicestershire club's history.

It has taken five wins in the competition for the seventh-tier side to come through qualifying, and a historic first-round appearance to set up the tie.

Daire has been part of the Bees' fine run, but is quick to point out he has never come close to playing against such high-profile opposition.

And when asked if he has played at a venue comparable to Reading's 24,000-capacity ground, the forward laughed when he said: "Only on Fifa, so no I haven't.

"It's something I look forward to and I'm sure everyone at the club will be looking forward to it.

"It's amazing. I'll be [playing] on Fifa and I'll be looking on Google and doing what I need to do to be prepared and ready."

The Southern League Premier Central club have never faced an English Football League (EFL) side in a competitive match.

They beat fellow non-league team Tonbridge Angels 4-1 on Saturday in the Bees' first appearance in the FA Cup first round.

Post-match celebrations in Kent were euphoric on Saturday, and those scenes were matched a day later at the Bees' clubhouse in Market Harborough when players, staff and supporters watched live as they were drawn against Reading.

"It was bouncing in there - we are all over the moon. What a draw. It's special," Daire told 91Èȱ¬ Radio Leicester.

"When Reading came out, it was just joy. And now, you can tell with my voice, I'm like a kid at Christmas, I'm so excited."

"We have done what we needed to around the local leagues, and we wanted the big test against a League One team where we can go out there and test ourselves and enjoy it."

The FA Cup second round will be played between Friday, 29 November and Monday, 2 December 2024.