Royston Town U18s have been handed the biggest match of their short careers after being paired with Arsenal in the FA Youth Cup fourth round.

The Crows, now the only non-league side left in the competition, defeated Oxford City 3-1 in the previous round and were given the potential of a showdown with the junior Gunners when the draw was made.

Arsenal fulfilled their end of the bargain by beating Championship side Reading in the third round last Friday night to set up Royston’s mega tie at Boreham Wood next month, something chairman Steve Jackson can scarcely believe.

Jackson told the Crow: “The whole situation has blown me away to be honest.

“It was the first time in the club’s history that we had even made the third round so to go one step beyond and be handed such a tie with a Premier League club is incredible.

“To also be the only non-league side left as well is astonishing. You look at the draw and there’s six teams outside the top two divisions as it is.

“The gulf between the league and the non-league is obviously huge so we will savour this moment.”

The match, scheduled for the week beginning January 12, will be screened live on the hosts’ television channel, Arsenal TV and Jackson is hoping for more publicity besides to further showcase his club’s grand achievement.

“We will get Christmas out of the way and then enquire about someone from Sky or radio coming down.

“There were scouts from Liverpool and Everton for the previous round at Oxford City so we know this is a shop window for our players.

“We have also had scouts from Ipswich Town and Bolton Wanderers in our other matches so we know Football League teams are on the look-out for good talent.

“We have that here and our players know they can go and play Arsenal with no expectation and without fear and hopefully we will see their best.”