Saturday 5 November 2016 10:42, UK
Sam Merson speaks to Sky Sports News HQ about St Albans City's FA Cup first-round tie with Carlisle and following his father Paul's footsteps in the competition.
It's a cold Thursday November evening in North London and a community artificial pitch, with dim lighting, is split into three.
One third hosts some kind of boot camp fitness session, the middle section is a kids kick-about and then, in the third, is St Albans City, preparing for an FA Cup first-round match.
The players are watched by manager Ian Allinson, part of the Luton team that reached the 1988 FA Cup semi-finals, but not before he battled with kids' parents at pick-up time for a spot in the tight car park.
Among those warming up is a striker with a familiar surname and a familiar squad number - the hero of the last round, a man who scored the winner to set up this weekend's tie with League Two's Carlisle United.
As he wheeled away to celebrate his first-half strike at Egham Town last month, all eyes were on 'Merson 10'.
Sam Merson's father, Paul, is no stranger to FA Cup success, having won the competition with Arsenal. He also played for Aston Villa in a narrow defeat against Chelsea in 2000.
"I wasn't born in '93 but I remember going to a few finals at Wembley," Sam told Sky Sports News HQ.
"I ring him every Saturday before he goes on Sky and he gives me pointers. I'll always talk to him about football but there's never any pressure from him."
Paul, the Arsenal legend, will put his allegiances to the Gunners to one side this weekend as he travels to St Albans for his son's game, meaning he will miss the North London derby.
And the "Magic Man", usually prevented from attending games due to his Soccer Saturday commitments, is relishing the opportunity to observe Sam's ability in the air.
"I haven't seen him yet this season because he always plays on a Saturday," he said. "With his jump, I'd back him against anyone.
"I'm not going to put him in the Cristiano Ronaldo category, but it would be interesting to see who could leap the highest."
Sam takes the praise in stride.
"One game I went up for a header and it stuck with me," he said. "I've never worked on it."
Sam, like many, has been inspired by the Jamie Vardy story. From non-league to the Ballon d'Or shortlist via Premier League triumph, Vardy has given lower-league players hope.
"There's a lot of talent at this level," Sam continued. "Some of the players you play against and wonder why they aren't playing at a higher level.
"Hopefully, more can progress through the ranks and go on and play for England."
It's a view echoed by Paul Merson.
"After what happened with Vardy, you'd think people would be down watching those leagues a lot," he said.
"There's a lad at Maidenhead [David Tarpey] who has 20 goals in 15-odd games. You'd like to think people would be watching him."
Carlisle, Sunday's opponents, are unbeaten in English football's fourth tier and currently sit second in the division. Paul is well aware that cup shocks can happen.
"I played in the lower leagues and what Carlisle have done so far this season in going unbeaten and scoring in every game is some going at that level," Paul said.
"It will be a tough game for St Albans but I've played in some cup shocks. I was manager at Walsall when we got beaten at Slough and I played at Arsenal when we lost against Wrexham.
"Anything can happen on Cup days. I think the last 20 minutes will be the most important of part this match."
"There's no pressure on us," Sam said. "We just need to go out and give it our best shot."
Can Sam call on any of his dad's attributes as a player?
"No," Sam said. "He was more of a creator and I like scoring the goals."
Another winning FA Cup goal on Sunday will continue to help Sam Merson make a name for himself.
