National League leaders York City have made an excellent start to the season, winning 10 out of their first 16 league games.
But on Saturday, they face arguably the toughest test of manager Adam Hinshelwood’s reign so far, when the Minstermen visit League One Wycombe Wanderers in the first round of the FA Cup.
Hinshelwood – who spent the 2009-10 season at Wycombe as a player – took over as York boss in February.
At 40-years-old, he is the same age as former Chairboys team-mate and current boss Matt Bloomfield.
“We pay huge respect to our opponents,” Hinshelwood told BBC Radio York.
“They are on an unbelievable run, flying high in League One, they have got some real firepower.”
Bloomfield is also enjoying the first few months of the season, with only Birmingham City ahead of the Chairboys in the table, after an impressive run of eight wins in 12 league games.
“It is a great test – one that we feel we are ready for,” said Hinshelwood. “We want to pit ourselves against the best and see where we are.
“We are going to need a lot of luck and us to be at our best to even compete, but that’s the challenge.”
York’s best ever FA Cup performance came nearly 70 years ago when they lost 2-0 to Newcastle United in their semi-final replay in the 1954-55 season.
Wycombe were famously beaten 2-1 by Liverpool in the semi-finals in 2001, two years before Bloomfield began his 19-year playing career at Adams Park.
The former midfielder has legendary status at the club, but Hinshelwood made just 13 appearances as a defender, before retiring because of a knee injury.
“I was made club captain in January and we got relegated [from League One] and I didn’t really contribute as much as I wanted to,” he admitted.
“One of the darkest days…in my football career was seeing the team get relegated at Leyton Orient, I was just sat in the stands…it was tough.”
But while the lack of playing time made the experience “bittersweet”, the return to Buckinghamshire is still one he is looking forward to.
“I had a great time there. Lovely people, they couldn’t do enough for you as a player,” the York boss said.
“I look forward to going back and seeing Blooms and some familiar faces.”
So could an FA Cup run for York be the latest success for the Hinshelwood family’s football dynasty?
The game offers a chance for Adam’s managerial exploits to enjoy the limelight that has recently been taken by son Jack’s displays in the Premier League for Brighton & Hove Albion.
“We are all ultra competitive”, Adam – whose father and grandfather were also footballers – recently told Football Focus.
“We are taking our advice off of people who have been there and done it, so I’m sure that does have a bit of a factor to play.”
“The games in [our] garden get a little bit tasty,” he joked.
