YORK City’s FA Cup opponents may ply their trade three tiers below the Minstermen - but boss Steve Watson says he will take it “very seriously”.

The draw today for the second qualifying round of the Cup has pitted York against North West Counties League premier division side Irlam on the weekend of September 21.

Like the Minstermen, Irlam have made an unbeaten start to the campaign, winning three of their opening five fixtures. This is the furthest they ever have come in the Cup, helped along by a 4-0 win at Charnock Richard in the first qualifying round.

But Watson - who featured as a second-half substitute for Newcastle United in the 1997/98 FA Cup final defeat to Arsenal - insists there is no room for complacency against lower-league sides.

Moreover, nor is there any need to risk missing out on a potential run in the prestigious competition.

“It’s going to sound like a cliche,” he said. “But we’ve seen so many times teams beating teams above their league.

“Would I prefer Irlam than someone in our league? Probably - but it’s no easy task.

“I’d be lying if I said I knew a great deal about them. I know the area, I know the league they’re in and their position.

“We won’t have seen a lot of them but we’ll do the same as for any other team - we’ll have them looked at and see what they’re like.

“We’re going to take the game very seriously.

“I’m a football traditionalist - I love everything about the competition. It gives teams like Irlam, and ourselves - because we become underdogs if we get someone higher up - a chance in one of the greatest cup competitions in football.

“I’m looking forward to it.”