We'll cope with the big occasion
By Trevor Challis

Wednesday 2nd November 2005

TREVOR Challis insists Weymouth won't be overawed at Nottingham Forest. The full-back believes the Terras have enough players with big game experience to cause a shock at the City Ground.

And the former Queens Park Rangers defender - who once played alongside David Beckham for England under-21's - says Garry Hill's men should think of the tie as a run-of-the-mill Conference South fixture.

He said: "Playing at Forest is going to be fantastic but although we're big underdogs, we've got a chance because we're confident and on a ten game unbeaten run.

"Very often non-League teams go to big grounds like the City Ground and get overawed by the occasion.

"I don't think that will be the case with us because a lot of the squad have played at a higher level than Conference South and will know what to expect.

"The important thing is that we enjoy the occasion, days like this don't come around too often in football after all.

"I've been fortunate to play at the City Ground in the past, in a youth team game for Queen's Park Rangers, and I remember it being a superb stadium.

"I'm sure the fans will have a great day and with their vocal support, who knows what will happen on Saturday?"

Challis, now 30, was on the verge of footballing stardom after making his Premiership debut for QPR at Everton in 1995.

He went to make several appearances for England under21 s, including alongside David Beckham in the 1996 Toulon tournament, before disaster struck.

He said: "I'd made 18 first team appearances and played alongside Beckham for England under-21 which is a great honour, even then you could see how much talent he had.

"But then my knee went from under me against Norwich and I thought I was finished.

"It took 19 months of hard work and four operations before I could return and then it was struggle finding a new club.

"Eventually lan Holloway, who was with me at QPR, signed me for Bristol Rovers and I was there for five years."

Spells at Telford United and Shrewsbury followed before his summer move to Garry Hill's full-timers.

"The reason I joined Weymouth was because the club under Garry and the chairman Martyn Harrison are very ambitious and want to progress," he said.

"Days like Saturday will give the club a taste of the big time which hopefully we can repeat:'