STALWART Mark Jermyn will savour every minute of what promises to be a momentous day in the history of Dorchester Town.

Sunday’s FA Cup clash with Plymouth (4.30pm) will be the first time the county town outfit perform live on television and their first appearance in the first round proper since 2008.

At the age of 31, the Magpies’ skipper knows this opportunity may not come around again anytime soon and is therefore planning to make the most of the Pilgrims’ visit.

He told Echosport: “I have been involved in some good games during my time at the club. We went to Wigan and Oxford United in the FA Cup and we’ve had some good pre-season games against good opposition.

“I’ve also been a part of promotions and won cups but Sunday will be one of the biggest games I will have ever played in.

“For the likes of myself, Jason Matthews and Nick Crittenden, we aren’t going to get too many more chances to play in games like this.

“It’s a great draw and one of the best we could have hoped for. They are close enough to bring a few fans with them, we are at home, where we are strong regardless of last Saturday’s result, and it’s a game that if everyone is on it, we will compete.

“It’s going to be a brilliant day and it could set the club up for a while.”

Jermyn is also urging the younger members of the Magpies’ squad to capitalise on the chance to showcase their talent in front of the ESPN cameras.

He added: “Hopefully some of the younger ones can put themselves in the shop window. It would be great if something came out of the match for them.

“We have had a few players who have gone on to good things and we have some decent young players at the moment who can go and play at a higher level – people like Lewis Morgan and Charlie Clough.”

Assessing Dorchester’s chances of overcoming their Npower League Two opponents, the captain said: “Getting a replay would be a great achievement.

“We managed to get one against Oxford four years ago and there’s no reason why we can’t do it again. It’s a strange old competition.

“To pit yourself against players of a better standard is a great way to challenge yourself.

“They are professionals and will be fitter than us, but we have some great footballers in our team.

“It will be good fun – all the players are looking forward to it. Hopefully we can give a good account of ourselves.

“I know we lost our unbeaten home record last Saturday but sometimes that sort of thing can be a blessing in disguise as now we will enter the game looking to bounce back.”

There were fears the longest-serving member of the current squad would miss the eagerly-awaited encounter after a clash of heads in last weekend’s 2-1 defeat to Tonbridge Angels left him with a suspected fractured cheekbone.

Thankfully, the damage was not as severe as first feared and Jermyn is expected to make his 551st appearance in county town colours.

He added: “It’s been a bit swollen but thankfully nothing is broken, which is the most important thing.

“I tried to carry on at first because I felt I was really in the game and playing well, but it really knocked the wind out of my sails.

“As soon as we went in for half-time I said I needed to go to the hospital because it didn’t feel right.

“The staff at the hospital were as good as gold and they said that nothing was broken – just a lot of tissue damage.

“My face was really swollen on Sunday morning but I feel a lot better now.”

Asked if he would consider wearing a protective mask for the date with Argyle, Jermyn replied: “I don’t think I would feel comfortable wearing something like that. With the game being on TV I think I would look like a prima donna as well.”