Exeter City FC

Jonny Maxted says the Emirates FA Cup is a competition that has massive importance to him as it gave him an opportunity to get back into the Football League.

Jonny was at non-league Guiseley in 2017 when they beat Accrington Stanley on penalties in an FA Cup first round replay. Jonny got a move to the League Two side off the back of that result and says he is forever grateful to the ‘magic’ of the FA Cup and Accrington for giving him a route back into EFL.

“It got me back in the Football League,” he said. “We played them at home – 0-0 it was – and then we played them away on Tuesday night and we got a lad sent-off.

“It finished up 1-1 and went through to penalties and I saved two penalties and off the back of it Accrington signed me and got me back into the Football League and I am forever grateful to them for that. For me it was the magic of the FA Cup as it got me to where I needed to be again, so it is a massive competition for me.”

Jonny, who signed for Exeter City in the summer, goes into Sunday’s second round clash with Hartlepool United off the back of three clean sheets which he is happy with.

“It is really pleasing because as a goalkeeper you want to be keeping clean sheets,” he said. “It is the same for our defenders as well and they have done a great job to get those three clean sheets.

The shot stopper is also calling for the fans to make as much noise as they can for Sunday’s game to help them progress to the third round of the competition.

“The fans are the 12th man, you could see that when we played Plymouth and Cambridge,” said Jonny. “They spurred us on and they kept us going and as tough as it is to watch, when sides are sat in like Cambridge were, they kept us going and they got us that goal and they have been great all season.”