Oxford City Midfielder Scott Pollock Targets FA Cup Shock Against Boyhood Club Leicester City

Oxford City midfielder Scott Pollock believes his side have every chance of delivering a major FA Cup first-round upset against Leicester City on Friday night. The National League North outfit are set to host the former Premier League and FA Cup winners under the floodlights on their artificial pitch at The MGroup Stadium, with Pollock insisting there is "no reason" the non-league underdogs cannot compound the current struggles of his boyhood team.

The 25-year-old, who signed for Oxford City in July, holds strong ties to the third-tier visitors. A Leicester supporter since childhood, Pollock had trials with the Foxes as a young goalkeeper, transitioning into an outfield role only after being turned down. He believes the visitors enter the fixture under significant strain following back-to-back relegations from the Premier League and Championship alongside a difficult start to their League One campaign, noting that home conditions work in Oxford City's favour.

The part-time Hoops reached the first round proper for the first time in four years after edging past Torquay United in the final qualifying round. Pollock has previously experienced Oxford City's capacity for giant-killings from the other side of the pitch; in 2020, while playing for Northampton Town, he was part of the League One team beaten 2-1 by the non-leaguers in the FA Cup.

Friday's encounter marks the latest step in an unconventional footballing journey for Pollock, who initially rose to prominence on YouTube by winning Hashtag United's academy competition ahead of 20,000 applicants at age 16. The competition, organised by brothers Spencer Owen and Seb Carmichael-Brown, paved the way for a man-of-the-match performance in the Wembley Cup, a trial at Crystal Palace, 70 appearances for Brackley Town, and 29 senior matches with two goals at Northampton. Now, with excitement building, Pollock hopes to help Oxford City write another chapter of cup history.