Jutorre Burgess, the Harborough Town winger, will feature in the Emirates FA Cup second round against Reading after his team pulled off an upset.

The Southern League Premier Division Central outfit delivered a 4-1 drubbing of hosts Tonbridge Angels to progress and make it the farthest they have ever reached in the oldest football competition in the world.

“First of all I am grateful to God for giving me this experience and also grateful to Harborough Town as well,” said Burgess, who was an unused substitute during the cup-tie.

“Even though I didn’t get on the pitch, I had to look at the bigger picture of being 18 and in the squad for the first round of the FA Cup.

“When I first got to the stadium, the atmosphere was unreal. Walking out for the warm up in front of 3,132 fans, it is a feeling I’ll never forget.

“I also have to give a shout-out to the 500 Harborough Town fans that travelled the long journey to support this monumental achievement by a fantastic group of lads.”

Ben Stephens led the charge for the visitors with a brace with Paul Malone and Dan Forbes also getting their names on the scoresheet. Sean Shields, the Tonbridge captain, replied for the home side who play a level above Harborough in the English pyramid in the Vanarama National League South.

Mitch Austin’s team will now hit the road again to face Sky Bet League One outfit Reading in the second round of the competition this month on a date yet to be confirmed, with Burgess keen to retain his spot in the squad for the big occasion.

“After the game, the chairman [co-chairman Greg Tickner] asked me ‘if I told you four months ago you would be in the hat for the second round of the FA Cup what would you tell me’?,” he added. “My response was ‘I would’ve just looked at you like you don’t know football’. From Hamilton Parish to second round of the FA Cup, what a journey.

“I just need to continue to work to be a part of the squad for the next round against Reading, which is my goal and hopefully earn a call up to the Bermuda national team.”

There is added incentive for Burgess and his fellow team-mates as the eventual winner of the cup-tie could potentially do battle with a Premier League side in the third round.

The former Parish player has made ten appearances for Harborough’s senior squad since joining from Brooke House College Football Academy, including their 4-2 win at home to Stourbridge in an FA Cup qualifier in September.