Cruise ship apprentice engineer seeks FA Cup glory(UPDATED)

This weekend the next round of ties takes place which sees some of the lower division professional teams matched against non-league teams, some of who have already battle through seven qualifying rounds to get to this stage.

Among those dreaming of FA Cup success is Stephen Turnbull who plays for Blyth Spartans, a non-league team ranked in the seventh tier of English football, who plays for the team in between periods at sea working as an engineer on a cruise ship.

Turnbull recently returned from a spell working in the engine room of Chinese Tiashan, the former Costa Voyager, currently sailing in the China Sea between Shanghai and Japan.

The 27-year-old apprentice engineer is selected to play midfield for the Blyth team against Hartlepool Friday evening. To make the occasion even more special, the tie is being televised live on the BBC.

‘It was not that long ago that I was away at sea, stuck in an engine room. I was just delighted to get back playing after coming off the ship, and now I am going to be live on the BBC in the second round of the FA Cup. It could not have gone any better.’ Turnbull told the BBC.

Turnbull began his football career at Hartlepool in 2004, left four years later, joined Blyth in 2009 and then moved to Australia.

He returned to play for Blyth last year but his cruise ship apprenticeship means he can spend several months at sea.

UPDATE FRIDAY NIGHT: Turnbull scored a goal as Blyth beat Hartlepool 2-1 to move into the third round of the FA Cup.