Part-timers will be on the pitch this evening but Blyth Spartans have drafted in professionals to carry on that venerable FA Cup tradition: the tribute song. The Quireboys, the multimillion-selling hard-rock band who have supported the Rolling Stones and were managed by Sharon Osbourne in the 1990s, have written and recorded the optimistically titled We Are The Famous Blyth Spartans (And We’re Going To Wembley).

Paul Guerin, the guitarist, is a Spartans supporter whose grand-father played for the club in the 1920s. Proceeds go to the Make A Wish Foundation and it is hoped that the single will sell about 4,000 copies, which would be enough to see it enter the Top 40 chart.

Blyth’s fame rests on that name — Fred Stoker, the club’s secretary when they were founded in 1899, wanted the players to be inspired by the battling qualities of the ancient Greek army — and their run to the fifth round of the Cup in 1978. “For 30 years us Geordie boys been hanging round to make some noise . . . We are the famous giant killer,” as The Quireboys bawl. That year, Blyth beat Stoke City and Chesterfield but lost narrowly to Wrexham in a replay in front of 42,167 at St James’ Park.

That crowd was ten times the capacity of Croft Park and a hundred times the size of the club’s present average attendance, though a full house of about 4,000 will welcome Blackburn Rovers this evening. “It’s known as an FA Cup club after ’78,” Graham Fenton, the player-coach, said. “We’d like that changed and maybe make a push for league football, which we’ve never had.”

Although Blyth have beaten League opponents in Shrewsbury Town and Bournemouth to reach the third round, they are in the relegation zone in the Blue Square North. They train only once or twice a week and on New Year’s Day they were beaten 3-0 by Gateshead. It is perhaps not wholly surprising, then, that though Sam Allardyce, the Blackburn manager, is expected to field a weakened side, he has warned his players that a shock would “put their careers at this club in jeopardy”.

“Fitness levels will be a big thing,” Fenton said. “We can’t go gung-ho at the start, they’ll pick us off in the last half-hour. We’ll be setting up in a pretty solid formation, trying to hit them on the break, not attacking with three up front because we’ll get destroyed.”

The 34-year-old forward had special cause to be thrilled with the draw. He moved from Aston Villa to Blackburn for £1.5 million in 1995 and scored a brace in a 2-1 win over Newcastle United in 1995-96 that effectively ended the title challenge of Kevin Keegan’s side. Fenton made only nine starts, but pointed out: “I had two decent players in front of me.” Namely the “SAS” partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton. “Then there was Kevin Gallagher, Mike Newell and Paul Warhurst,” he said. “I had a good 20 months but was limited to few opportunities. Alan, along with Paul McGrath, were the best two players I played with. I’m sure Alan will get a job in management at some point and I’m sure he’ll be a successful manager. He hates to get beaten.”

Perhaps Fenton could tempt Shearer off the pundits’ sofa with some work experience only a couple of miles north of Newcastle? “I think he’s got bigger jobs than Blyth Spartans in his sights,” Fenton said. This evening, though, as the television cameras and the Barclays Premier League stars arrive, Croft Park is the epicentre of English football. Famous, like the song says — if only perhaps for 90 minutes.

Blyth Spartans (possible; 4-5-1): M Bell — A Leeson, K Boyle, G Williams, R Pell — A Hume, J Poole, P Watson, A Gildea, R Dale — S Reay.

Blackburn Rovers (possible; 4-4-2): J Brown — D Simpson, Z Khizanishvili, C Samba, M Olsson — K Treacy, A Mokoena, V Grella, C Villanueva — M Derbyshire, J Roberts.

Referee: A Marriner.

Television: Live on Setanta Sports 1 from 7.30pm (kick-off 8pm).

Tale of the haves and have-nots

Founded: Blyth: 1899; Blackburn: 1875

Stadium: Blyth: Croft Park, capacity 4,000; Blackburn: Ewood Park, capacity 31,367

Average attendances: Blyth: 442; Blackburn: 20,928

League position: Blyth: 21st in Blue Square North; Blackburn: 19th in Barclays Premier League

Manager: Blyth: Harry Dunn, works at a children’s home; Blackburn: Sam Allardyce, former England managerial candidate

Captain: Blyth: Gareth Williams, former teaching assistant; Blackburn: Ryan Nelsen

Top-earning players: Blyth: £250 per week; Blackburn: £60,000 per week