LITTLE Oakley are gearing up for the biggest date in their history.

The Acorns have an FA Vase first-round proper tie against Enfield 1893 at the Memorial Ground on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

Having only entered the competition for the first time last season, this is the furthest the club have ever progressed.

And if they are victorious, they will put £825 into the club coffers – adding to the £725 they pocketed for winning their second qualifying round tie at home to Hadleigh United.

“Saturday’s Vase tie is the biggest game in the club’s history,” said long-serving Oakley chairman Michael Good.

“It symbolises how far we’ve moved forward in recent years and we’re very much looking forward to welcoming Enfield to the Memorial Ground.

“The majority of our squad have been with us for a number of seasons and few of us could have dreamed of being involved in this type of match.

“With the kind assistance of the Thurlow Nunn League and Holland FC (the sides had been due to meet in the First Division Knockout Cup in midweek but it was agreed to push the tie back until next Tuesday), we’ve had a full week to prepare and are aiming to put recent results behind us and be competitive against a higher-ranked team.”

Oakley are determined to get back to winning ways after the disappointment of Saturday’s 5-0 defeat at home to Benfleet.

It came seven days after an 8-0 reverse at May and Baker.

Enfield, in contrast, who play a step higher in the non-league pyramid, in the Essex Senior League, will head into this weekend’s tie on the back of a 3-1 victory against Stanway Rovers on Saturday, followed by a 0-0 draw at Hoddesdon Town on Tuesday night.

This weekend's losing side will walk away with £275 and so Oakley are guaranteed £1,000, given their winnings from the Hadleigh game on September 15.

“That money will be invested back into the club as we plan for the future,” added Good.

“We’re also hoping for a big crowd to support the team and with Enfield’s coaching team including (former Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and West Ham defender) Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock, this can only help boost the attendance.”

Fifty-year-old Ruddock was capped once by England, in 1994.

Oakley head into Saturday’s tie sitting sixth in Thurlow Nunn League division one south, with their rearranged First Division Knockout Cup tie at home to Holland FC to follow on Tuesday night (kick-off 7.45pm).

However, that game would be postponed if a replay is needed against Enfield.

The replay would take place at Harlow Town's The Arena stadium, in Elizabeth Way, and kick-off at 7.45pm.