He’s played in Europe and held his own against the best in Wales, but on Sunday, James Joyce faces the toughest test of his career.
Taking place at Rossett Park in front of the television cameras, non-league Marine take on Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham in the third round of the FA Cup.
For just the second time in the 140-year history of the competition, an eighth tier side has reached this stage of the competition. The only other side being Chasetown, who lost to 2008 FA Cup finalists Cardiff City.
All eyes will rightfully be on the Mariners with footballing purists hoping for a footballing miracle against one of the most revered managers in football.
“I’m too excited for this weekend,” said an eager Joyce.
“It’s a chance to play against a top Premier League club and some of the best players in the world. The buzz around the players and club at the moment is great.
“The Cup run that we’ve been on has been immense. To go through in the Cup against teams from higher leagues has been such an achievement. Especially with our league being so stop start. It’s such an achievement for a non-league from our division to make it to the third round.
“This will be going down as my best achievement and highlight of my career so far.”
Embed from Getty ImagesJoyce’s usual opponents are of a similar ilk to him. They are players who finish their shifts of their jobs and their personal lives along with their footballing commitments.
However Sunday will be perhaps a once-in-a-life-time opportunity.
Though not guaranteed to play, Spurs captain Harry Kane, could feature. The 27-year-old was the top scorer in the 2018 World Cup, winning the Golden Boot.
Alongside him in their deadly attack is Son Heung-min, who has won international honours with South Korea.
“It’ll be surreal knowing that I could be up against the likes of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min,” added the former Seasiders left-back.
“These are the players you hear about and watch every week.
“The chance to play against them in a competitive match is definitely one for the memory book.
“It’s ridiculous to think the difference in wages that will be matched up against each other.
“They’re being paid £100k a week to come to Liverpool and play a non-league team in front of no fans.
“Maybe when the players are asking to swap shirts, I might ask to swap watches!”
As seen across football, this has been a season like no other. The preparations for this fixture have been different for the non-league outfit.
The glamour tie was initially due to take place with 500 supporters but it will now take place behind-closed-doors.
In fact, there was also the possibility of being unable to play the fixture, given Marine lack the elite status which allows football clubs to continue playing, through a national lockdown.
However special dispensation has been granted , allowing for Joyce and his teammates to prepare for the mammoth task ahead of them.
“I couldn’t believe it when Spurs came out. I don’t think it will sink in until we step out on to the pitch with them, it will still feel surreal.
“I’m hopeful that we all give a good account of ourselves and that we do the club and everyone proud.
Ahead of the game, the squad must stay at a hotel like in previous rounds as part of a bubble, as well as taking part in compulsory COVID-19 tests.
“I’ll be spending the weekend with the team in the hotel. It is something we all look forward to as we did it in the previous two rounds,” revealed the 26-year-old.
Before Joyce reached his current destination, he was cutting his cloth in the Welsh domestic game.
Joyce, formerly of Llandudno, spent four years at Maesdu Park, playing under Alun Morgan, who is the assistant manager at Marine.
“I loved my time at Llandudno. The players, staff and the members off the pitch was the reason I stayed for so long, it’s a well run club.”
During his time with the club, he was part of the Llandudno team which won the Cymru Alliance, thus earning promotion to the Welsh top flight for the first time.
It was his goal, away at Penycae which sparked jubilous scenes, a moment which will stand long in the memory.
“The standout moment from my time there would have to be the day we got promoted to the Cymru Premier away at Penycae and I was the one who scored the winning goal.”
Most commonly in football, the objective of most newly promoted sides is to consolidate their position in their new division.
However Llandudno had different ideas as they rode the wave of their success from the previous season, earning a third-placed finish in their first top flight campaign.
“In the season we finished third, we really took everybody by surprise.
“In most leagues, the main objective is to survive relegation, but for us to perform and get the results that we did with the majority of the squad from the previous season, it was quite an achievement.
As a result of their high finish, the club qualified for the UEFA Europa League for the first time, as Alun Morgan’s side continued to make history.
They were drawn against Swedish giants IFK Göteborg and played at the 18,000 capacity Gamla Ullevi.
In the first leg, they suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat Allsvenskan outfit, however in the return leg, they played to a respectable 2-1 defeat at Nantporth.
“That feeling of qualifying for Europe for the first time was brilliant. To go abroad to play in the Europa League with your mates and have the chance to play against a top team in front of thousands of fans then there’s not much better experiences than that.”
“There are so many pro players in the English leagues who won’t get a chance to do that.”
After a seventh-placed finish, Joyce called time on his career with the Seasiders, moving into the professional game.
A trial at Crewe Alexandra followed, but he would later move to Marine in August 2018.
He then left for FC United of Manchester, before returning to where he is now.
“I left Llandudno because I felt like I had achieved everything I could with them and wanted a new challenge and to be in a different environment in the English leagues.
“Travelling an hour and a half to train and play matches also played a part in that season.”
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