The Colchester United midfielder has experienced both sides of the competition’s famous giant-killing tradition during his career and will take those lessons into the U’s first-round tie with Worcester City tomorrow.

Digby was part of the Cambridge United side which produced a memorable third-round upset at Premier League Newcastle United in January 2022, winning 1-0 at St James’ Park.

But he has also tasted disappointment as the higher-ranked side, having been involved when Lincoln City knocked Ipswich Town out of the competition, while he has also experienced being taken to penalties by non-league Curzon Ashton.

Those memories mean the 31-year-old is under no illusions about the challenge facing Colchester.

“I’ve had plenty of experience of playing against non-league teams in the FA Cup and different results,” said Digby.

“I love the FA Cup, so all of those kind of experiences I enjoy, in different ways.

“I know what’s coming at the weekend having had those experiences.

Up for the cup - Paul Digby (right) with Colchester United team-mate Jack Tucker (Image: Richard Blaxall)

“You can’t underestimate any team and you’ve got to go full at it from minute one for the whole game.

“You’ve got to bring your A game, which we’ll be doing at the weekend.”

Digby’s most cherished FA Cup memory came at Newcastle, where Joe Ironside’s goal helped Cambridge record one of the competition’s great modern upsets.

And the midfielder believes his experiences that day demonstrated exactly what Worcester will be attempting to achieve against the U’s.

“I had an amazing experience at Cambridge, going to Newcastle and having that memory,” he added.

“It was an amazing day for me and my family. It’s absolutely incredible what the FA Cup can bring you, as a player.

“They were on top for large periods and we were celebrating the little wins and trying to make it as awkward and horrible as we could for them.

“The celebrations afterwards were really special too. A really special group pulling together and some of the individual performances on that day too were incredible.

“You have the rough with the smooth with the Lincoln-Ipswich game.

“Hopefully, we can write our own story because the memories stay with you for life.”

Game time - Paul Digby of Colchester United (Image: Richard Blaxall)

Colchester have left little to chance in their preparations, with Digby revealing they have extensively studied Worcester while the U’s management team have watched them in person.

“We know how big a game it is for them,” he said.

“These are massive games for all non-league sides and they want to have the upsets, of course they do, but it’s down to us to be as professional as we can.

“We’ve watched a lot of their games in the classroom and I know the managers have been to several of their games as well, so we know all about them.

“That gives us great preparation in the lead-up to the game and we’ll be ready for them.”

Digby is enjoying being back in the Colchester side and believes an FA Cup victory could provide Cowley’s team with an important lift.

“We’re a very talented, incredibly hard-working group and we just need to keep pushing together and keep helping each other through a difficult moment, which happens in football,” he said.

“But I’m convinced when I see how hard everyone’s working day to day and on the training pitch that we can pull through.

“I’ve seen it with other teams where they have a good result in the cup and it can galvanize the group, so let’s make sure that’s us come the end of Saturday.”

And for Digby, the attraction of the competition remains as strong as ever.

“It’s the best cup competition in the world and it’s always an absolute privilege and pleasure for a player to be involved in,” he added.

“We know what a good cup run can bring and how it can give you momentum and a bit of a lift as a group.”