IT is hard to escape the FA Cup this week, it is something that has gripped everybody - they are all talking about it.

People continue to ask whether the FA Cup has lost its sparkle, but I can tell you at York City we don't think so.

It has been difficult to put it out of our minds, especially with the fact the Grimsby Town replay was only a few days ago, and it has been so hectic at the club with everybody wanting a ticket.

I know a lot of people will have been disappointed not to get a ticket, but it is always difficult in these situations and you can't please everyone.

I feel sorry for the loyal supporters who haven't been able to get a ticket.

It would have been nice if everyone for turned out to watch us against Rochdale on Tuesday night had got a ticket as a reward for coming along.

We would like to see a lot of the fans from Saturday come back and watch us throughout the season, but we realise that this is York City's biggest game for many years and it one that everybody wants to come along to.

The FA Cup certainly has been great for us over the past couple of seasons - in fact this is our tenth tie in two years and we have only lost one, and that was to Leicester City!

Realistically, this is a game Fulham should win, but then again realistically Colchester should have beaten us, realistically Reading should have beaten us and realistically Grimsby should have beaten us, so who knows what will happen.

As a team we haven't had time to dwell on it with the fact we've had important league games to fit in.

And before we know it, Fulham will be upon us, so it is a case of keeping the players relaxed.

We've spent today at Aldwark Manor, with the players using the gym or going for a swim, and doing a few interviews.

Everybody wants to speak to us - it is not just the local media, but the national media as well.

But tomorrow will see our major preparations for the game at training. The players will be off limits for interviews, allowing them to concentrate on the job in hand, but I will do my usual conference with the press.

As busy as it has been, with everyone working so hard over the past few days, I wish it could be like this every week.

We've prepared for this game and done our homework just as much as we did for Colchester, Reading and Grimsby - and it all paid off then!

I've watched a few videos of Fulham play and have got three reports on them, so we will be ready.

It will be a tremendous challenge for all the players, but they jumped up a step to beat Second Division sides Colchester and Reading and jumped up another step to beat First Division Grimbsy.

However, I don't think there are any bigger jumps than this.

To be honest, I'm not looking any further than the fourth round, but I can dream can't I.

Updated: 10:40 Thursday, January 24, 2002