Ford thinking about quarter-finals - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

VCD Athletic boss Martin Ford has issued a rallying cry to the Kent League family to cheer his team into the quarter-finals of the FA Carlsberg Vase when Toolstation Western Premier League side Bideford visit the Oakwood on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

Ford’s men have warmed up to their last sixteen showdown with Kent League victories over Tunbridge Wells (2-0) and a 4-2 win over neighbours Slade Green during the past week.

But they face their biggest test of the season to see if they can reach the quarter-finals for the very first time in their history - and a crowd of over 500 will be at the Oakwood to see if they can do it.

“I’m thinking last eight. If the club can get into the last eight of the FA Vase that’s a fantastic achievement,” Ford said in an EXCLUSIVE interview with www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“I look at the sides in it and I see VCD amongst it and on our finances that we’ve got, it’s a fantastic advert for the Kent League and fantastic for the club again.

“I was looking and there’s three sides in the last sixteen last year so we’re one of three to get into the last sixteen for two years running is an achievement on it’s own.

“We’re under no illusions. Bideford will probably be the favourites when they come here.

“They’re spending a lot of money, they’ve got some ex-pros’ in there and they know the FA Vase history.

“They’ve got four or five lads in there who have won the Vase with Taunton and players like that so we’re under no illusions.

“We need to play very well on the day. We know, like we did (in the last round) against West Auckland, we really upped the ante against them. First half they were deservedly 1-0 up but second half we came out a little bit like we did against Tunbridge Wells.

“We showed a little bit more aggression and commitment to the ball and when you do that things do happen for you and people start making mistakes.”

Visit VCD Athletic’s website: www.vcd-athletic.co.uk

VCD Athletic v Bideford
FA Carlsberg Vase Fifth Round
Saturday 10^th February 2007
Kick Off 3:00pm
At The Oakwood, Old Road, Crayford

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