Crawley manager Billy Smith may have his critics but they cannot fault his commitment.

Smith, who turns 60 in January, owns a flower stall at New Covent Market in London and his unsociable hours mean he regularly goes without sleep for the sake of football.

Smith is up at 2am three days a week and has to be awake at midnight for his other two working days.

When Crawley have a midweek game away, the Reds' boss will return in the early hours from the match and go straight to work.

Smith has built up his own company which supplies flowers wholesale to retailers all over the south.

While other men his age are winding down their commitments, Smith is still dashing around with the energy of someone half his age.

His enthusiasm for football is infectious and helps inspire his players.

He said: "It gets increasingly harder as you get older. It is a question of making do with an odd hour's sleep here and there. I don't suppose it is doing me any good.

"Sometimes it catches up with me and after a Saturday match I can feel really drained.

"I've always loved football so I make sacrifices to accommodate it.

"I used to play every day because there were no contracts in those days and I could play and train for two or three different teams.

"I've always been busy with work but I love it and still do. Even if I'm really tired, I'll always go and see a Combination or reserve fixture somewhere."

Smith, who returned for his second stint in charge at Crawley in October 1999, has never taken a side to the third round of the FA Cup during a 20-year managerial career. He is desperately hoping that changes tomorrow when Crawley host Conference side Dagenham in the second round.

It is the first time Crawley have reached this stage of the competition since December, 1993, when they progressed to the third round before losing to Brighton.

After being the victim of the terrace boo-boys who are frustrated at Crawley's inability to gain promotion, success in the cup might finally earn Smith their respect.

Smith has fond memories of the FA Cup from his playing days at Tooting and Mitcham and would love his players to experience the thrill of the third round when Premiership and Division One sides enter the draw.

He said: "When I was a player we had some cracking games in the FA Cup. We played Crystal Palace in the first round when Malcolm Allison was there and Tooting lost 2-1."