JACK Marston admitted he had to pinch himself last weekend – after a late Hereford call saw him swap West Midlands Division Two action for the glamour of the FA Cup in front of 1,400 people.

The 17-year-old – a member of the Bulls academy – was expecting to play for Ludlow at Church Stretton on Saturday in West Mids Two.

Instead, Marston received a late call-up to the bench for Hereford’s FA Cup second qualifying round game against Truro City at Edgar Street and was an unused substitute in the 0-0 draw.

The teenager got a call while at Ludlow College on Friday morning to summon him to Hereford to fill in the paperwork – and was among the Bulls substitutes just a day later.

Ludlow native Marston said: “I had a training game for the under-18s against the first team not long ago and I thought I had done well but I didn’t know I was going to get the call this soon.

“But with players injured and suspended, they needed places filling.

“It was so surreal – things like being in the changing room for the team talk and then walking out and warming up in front of a crowd like that.

“It was a lot different to under-18 football or playing for Ludlow. It was unbelievable.”