Gillingham midfielder Olly Lee will face his former team for the first time this Sunday.

Lee rose through the youth ranks with West Ham United and turned professional there before being released without playing a senior competitive game.

It’s a club that means a lot to the Lee family, as brother Elliot also progressed through the West Ham junior teams and dad Rob spent a season with the team he supported as a youngster.

“With all of our West Ham connections we were buzzing at the draw,” said Lee, who watched at home with his dad and brother as the teams were drawn together.

“It’s nice that it is at Priestfield because we will fancy our chances.

“I have never had the chance to play them since I have left, so it will be great. If Upton Park was still about I would have liked to be away, because that would have been special, but it will be a great day here for everyone."

Lee was a Newcastle fan growing up - he spent his childhood in the northeast during his dad's years playing for the Toon - but West Ham are his second team, a club not far from where he lives in Hornchurch.

He said: “Coming through the system there and getting quite close to it I had a real firm affinity to the club and I am proud to have come through there.

“It was a great upbringing in football and I can’t thank them enough really.

“My dad was a West Ham boy growing up and West Ham has always been in the family. Dad always wanted to play for them but we grew up in Newcastle and that was what we saw all the time.”

While Lee has plenty of family connections with the Hammers, it’s Barry Fuller who is the no.1 fan among the Gills players.

Fuller’s own dad came close to signing for the East London club professionally but turned the opportunity down.

Lee joked: “I think Baz has got the whole of the Rainham End! We’ll need the Barry Fuller stand, his whole family, everyone who he has ever met is going to be there I think.”

The cup tie has certainly captured the imagination.

Gillingham might have missed out on the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool, but West Ham’s close proximity and Premier League status has led to what is pretty much a sell-out at Priestfield.

Lee and the players are confident they can cause an upset, particularly as their home form is so good. It’s now eight games without defeat at Priestfield for the Gills, their seven-game winning streak coming to an end with a New Year’s Day draw against Portsmouth.

Midfield-man Lee - on loan from Scottish Premiership side Hearts until January 27 - said: “It’s a nice draw, it gives the club a bit of a boost and the lads a chance to show just how well we have been doing, infront of a bigger audience.

“It’s a chance to test ourselves against Premier League players which is obviously where everyone wants to end up.

“I fancy anyone coming here. We are playing well at the minute at Priestfield and I don’t think teams are going to want to play against us. We are not a nice team to play and we take great pride in that. I think we will give them a tough game, that’s for sure.

“I was on the bench there a few times at West Ham and around the first team quite a lot, but never quite made that breakthrough.

“It is always hard to try and get into a Premier League side but it was a really enjoyable time. When I left I was quite sad, it was quite a big upheaval in my life to leave there, but I am looking forward to playing them and hopefully putting the ball in their net!

“I would love to score the winner; it’s what dreams are made of.”