For me, the FA Cup is the biggest and best cup competition, where dreams are made and nightmares come true. Could this happen for us?

My first encounter with the FA Cup was in 2002. I was 19, I had joined Gillingham not long before and we got a dream tie away to Arsenal. I remember when the draw was made – the reaction from the dressing room was one of joy, while the chairman must have been rubbing his hands together.

The day of the game was bittersweet for me. We arrived at the beautiful Highbury, dripping with history, through the marble hallways and onto the carpet-like grass. We saw thousands of Gills fans singing away in the away end. By that point, I was buzzing at the prospect of possibly sharing the pitch with players like Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and David Seaman.

But then came the bitter pill that I’d not even made the bench. After watching the game from the stand, I vowed that I would be involved when Gills next played in the FA Cup against a Premier League side.

The next season, we did get another Premier League tie. The mighty Leeds were coming to Prestfield, boasting players like Mark Viduka, Alan Smith and Paul Robinson. For me, this was a dream come true, playing against some of the best players in the country. It was at the time when Leeds were playing against the likes of AC Milan in the Champions League.

On the day, we earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw. That meant we had the chance to go and play against these top players again, a chance for the fans to go to Elland Road and for the club to earn some well-needed revenue.

We lost the replay 2-1 but the result apart, it was an unbelievable night playing in front of more than 30,000 supporters under the Elland Road lights.

Being a favourite in the FA Cup takes the shine off the occasion because you’re in a no-win situation. If you win, you’re meant to and if you lose, you’re not giving the competition the respect you’re supposed to and you get hammered.

I remember, while I was at Gillingham, we got drawn away to Burscough, who were non-league. It was the first round in the 2005-06 season. We lost 3-2 and even though I wasn’t involved – because of injury – it was still embarrassing. Boy, didn’t we just know it for weeks after.

For us at Dartford, this is a nice day out and a distraction from a disappointing league campaign. I’ve been fortunate enough to play at Bradford on a couple of occasions so I know what to expect in regard to the fantastic atmosphere the fans generate.

Bradford are doing well in League 1 so we know the task ahead is going to be tough. But hey, who dares wins.