The prize is huge, says Wembley Winner Tommy Sampson

TOMMY SAMPSON says Herne Bay’s big-game players must turn up during both of their FA Carlsberg Vase Semi-Final make-or-break ties against Northern league highflyers West Auckland Town.

Sampson, who guided Deal Town to FA Carlsberg Vase glory underneath the iconic Wembley Twin Towers back in May 2000 when his side defeated Chippenham Town 1-0, thanks to Roly Graham’s late strike, has penned his thoughts ahead of Saturday’s first leg clash at Winch’s Field.

Sampson, who guided Herne Bay to a unique treble in 1997, will be watching Herne Bay’s biggest ever home game in their 125-year history on Saturday, hoping Simon Halsey’s side can take a good advantage up to Darlington Road for the away leg seven days’ later.



“Absolute fantastic times.  The only disappointing thing for me is the first leg is at home.  I’d rather been away.

“When you put it simply, it’s 180 minutes of football.  You have to score more goals than then and they have to score more than you.  It’s a simple equation but it’s two of the most nerve-wracking days of a footballers’ life.

“The prize is huge – Wembley’s huge, isn’t it?

“For you to go to Wembley to report on the game when normally you go to Tonbridge Angels or maybe Cray Wanderers -  I’d never forget Mike Green tell me it was an honour to go there to commentate. 

“Imagine going there to play?

“I desperately want Herne Bay to win as I want to go to Wembley to watch.

“You know the state of my health.  You know I haven’t been well for a while.  Wembley is a big fillip for me so I’m looking forward to Herne Bay getting through, which I think they will.

“I’ve spoken to some of my contacts in the North East.  I don’t think West Auckland are the most difficult opposition.  I think Herne Bay have done well to avoid Staveley.

“I think West Auckland suit Herne Bay with their pace out wide with Rhys Lawson and Dan Lawrence – that will unsettle West Auckland.

“As the only man in Kent to know what it’s like, the last 20 minutes of each leg will be the most crucial.  They will decide the outcome probably.  The last 20 minutes of the first leg is vital and the last 20 minutes of the second leg is even more important.

“You can throw it away or you can win it but it can be the most crucial times.

“How can Herne Bay get to Wembley?

“It was different for us as we won our first leg away.

“The side that I took to Wembley was hugely experienced, were big game players and I think Herne Bay have got big game players.

“One of the most important players on Saturday is James Campbell.  He will have to dictate to his midfield, to his defenders, where they are in the game.  If they’re 1-0 down or 1-0 up he will have to dictate and understand the situation.

“When we got to Wembley we were 2-0 up in the first leg with 20 minutes to go I made two substitutions.  I put two defenders on.  I thought there’s no way I’m chasing the third goal as I don’t want them to score.

“I believe Herne Bay have got to stop West Auckland scoring on Saturday.  A draw will be an acceptable result. What Herne Bay won’t want is to get beat by more than one goal because that will be a huge ask next week.

“It’s 180 minutes and someone has to score more than another.  It’s a simple equation.  Put it like that it’s easy for me as I’ve done it!

“It’s the most nerve wrecking day of my life, the second leg, when we got to Wembley.

“Unfortunately if Herne Bay get to Wembley they will be 300 miles away from home  so the celebrations will be fantastic but perhaps a bit more muted.

“That’s the price you pay for the first leg being away from home!

“Byron Walker – that’s a big loss because Byron is probably the most potent forward left in the competition.  I would think I don’t know much about Staveley and Dunston, I must be honst.

“Byron is a very good player, he’s sharp and he would have caused over the two games lots of problems.  He’s available for Saturday so Byron is a huge player and West Auckland will know that.  I’m pretty sure West Auckland have had Herne Bay watched.  Let’s hope they watched them last Saturday against Erith & Belvedere!

“I think Simon’s been messing about with his team. He’s still got a League to win. It’s got very complicated and very messy. The League is still there to be won. The next two Saturday’s are not only important and huge for Herne Bay, but for Erith Town as well.   Erith Town have got to take advantage of Herne Bay not playing.

“Tony Russell has got a big couple of Saturday’s – he’s got to get six points.

“Simon won’t be remembered for winning the League in 2012 – he’ll be remembered for winning The Vase.  There’s always next year to win the League.  I know promotion is vital.

“You’ve got to prioritise at the moment.   The one thing Herne Bay Football Club have got to do if they forgive me in telling them, they have to invest some time and ideas in what this success is bringing them.  They’ve got to think where we want to be in three years? Who do we want to be playing against?

“Do we want to be in Conference South? Can we afford it and they have to invest in this euphoria somehow. I know the people at Herne Bay, I know what they’re thinking.  John Bathurst is a forward thinking guy, there’s some excellent people at Herne Bay.  They’ll be thinking the same thing – we can’t let this thing peter out.

“I’m telling you, I believe Herne Bay’s destiny is to win the Vase this year, I really do.

“I can remember when we got through our semi-final second leg and qualified and got through to Wembley we had fourteen League games and we had to try to win the League but we couldn’t go up as the ground wasn’t going to be finished in time and the local council prevented (Deal Town chairman) Roy Smith developing the Charles Sports Ground unfortunately.  

“Look where Deal are now – bottom of the Kent League. I think that’s one of the greatest shame.

“I would say win the Vase, do your best to win the League, but win the Vase as you’re in the history books then. The League title can be won again next year.

“The Ryman League South is not the holy grail.  The holy grail, I would think for Herne Bay, if you look at teams like Cray Wanderers and Dartford now is the Conference South.  I think they’ve got to be thinking about that. It can be done, but it might take four years’, but winning the Vase will bring Herne Bay untold riches.    They will bring many thousands of pounds come into the club and it has to be invested into the facilities, players, manager.

“Simon’s done a fantastic job. I know he’s under contract.  Simon can walk into any job in the south-east of England if he wanted to if they win the Vase.  Herne Bay have to invest. Be prepared to invest time and effort into the future.

“It’s easy for me to say Herne Bay will win the Vase and they deserve to win the Vase as they’ve got some good players.

“I’ll be there Saturday bright and early.  I will be in the company with Terry Martin, who won the Vase with me as my captain.

“Terry phoned me up and said ‘can I go with you?’  I think with me and Terry Martin sitting there watching will be a good luck charm for Herne Bay.

“Simon is going to have my medal and Terry will bring his medal on Saturday and there will be more medals there than anybody’s seen.

“I think the home crowd have got to be patient as well as passionate.  If their 1-0 down with 20 minutes to go they must be careful about chasing it.  You don’t want to give two goals away in the last 20 minutes when you’re playing three up front.

“The first 20 and the last 20 are vital periods in the game.

“Simon doesn’t need my advice. The boys have got to turn up. It’s a big game and big game players turn up when it’s required.

“I can’t wish Herne Bay enough luck.  If the players turn up they’ll get a result.

“But it’s 180 minutes of football. People have to remember that.  It can’t be won on Saturday but it can be lost, so here’s to Wembley, eh. Let’s raise a glass.

“Well, I’ve got to tell you, the last time Kent football was this excited was when Deal and Ramsgate were both in the Sixth Round. We were talking about a Kent final.  Jimmy Ward and me were very close still to this day even. It would have been great – Deal versus Ramsgate at Wembley – can you imagine that?

“I think their destiny is Wembley and I hope Simon has got his nerve pills with him on Saturday as he’s nervous system will be tested to the full.  I remember mine was!  But we were fortunate because my home leg was the deciding leg. We had a 2-0 lead and people still think that was comfortable. It was never comfortable.  We won 3-1 on aggregate and I was the only bloke in the south-east of England who thought the other team could score three in five minutes.  It makes you a pessimist in games like these.

“You think the worst is going to happen, but you have to think about what you can do and not what you can’t do.”

This is the club’s biggest ever football match at Winch’s Field – dare you miss it?

Herne Bay have provided the following match details:

Admission charges will be £8 (adults), £4 (concessions), £1 (under 12’s). 
Season Tickets do not apply for this game
People without tickets please turn up early and with the correct change
The car park will be closed to all but players, officials, visiting VIP’s and the West Auckland coach.  Please park responsibility in the roads in the area.
There will be an extra fee of £2 for entry to the railway stand payable at the gate

Visit Herne Bay’s website: www.hernebayfc.net

Herne Bay  v  West Auckland Town
The FA Carlsberg Vase Semi-Final First Leg
Saturday 24th March 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Winch’s Field, Stanley Gardens, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5SG