We must create history by reaching The FA Vase Wembley Final, says Herne Bay boss Simon Halsey

HERNE BAY manager Simon Halsey has told his players’ to create history and reach The FA Carlsberg Vase Final at the iconic Wembley Stadium.



One team stand in their way and that is Northern League outfit West Auckland Town, who make the 616-mile round trip to Winch’s Field for the first leg on Saturday, before Halsey takes his side to Darlington Road for the return leg on 31 March.

Halsey revealed tonight that the Kent Hurlimann Football League leaders have already sold 1,200 tickets for Saturday’s first-leg – the club’s biggest ever home game in the club’s proud 125 year history.

Halsey, who was watching Herne Bay’s reserve side tonight, said everyone is looking forward to the two make-or-break clashes against one of the Northern League’s superpowers.

“Excitement for myself and the players and the whole of the club,” said Halsey, 47, as he prepares for the club’s biggest ever seven day period.

“The thing about it is we’re going to enjoy it all, that’s the main thing.  I want the players’ to enjoy the two games and make history down there.

“I think it’s going to be a case of whoever controls their emotions will mostly come out of it with the win, whoever has the best defence and plays the better football.

“There’s going to be highs and lows but we have to make sure we enjoy every, every moment of it.  The trip up there (next Friday), the home game first.  The crowds are going to be 1,200, if not more.  Tickets are selling like mad and we have to enjoy the return journey up there and we just have to make sure, like their manager will be saying, we’re still in the game for the second leg.”

When asked how he is going to treat the first leg at the expansive Winch’s Field, Halsey insisted: “We’ll be going for it – there will be no holding us back!

“It’s down at our place, in front of a lively crowd and our pitch suits us, nice and big and we’ll be going for the win and make sure we are still in it at ten-to-five on Saturday.

“Whatever happens at ten-to-five we’ll be making sure on Saturday we go up there to get our noses in front.

“We won’t be euphoric if we win and we won’t be down if we’re not winning. It’s a two-legged affair and we’re not worried about travelling away.

“Hopefully we’ll get our noses in front for our home leg.”
 
Former Herne Bay boss Tommy Sampson, who guided their Kent League rivals Deal Town to FA Carlsberg Vase glory underneath the iconic Wembley Twin Towers back in May 2000, will be at Winch’s Field as will Deal’s winning captain Terry Martin and their winners’ medals will inspire Herne Bay to a glorious seven day period.

There is a burning desire from within Winch’s Field that this year is Herne Bay’s turn!

“I love everyone has embraced the club and everything but the motivation for myself and my players is to create every more history,” said Halsey.

“We’ve created history by getting this far. We must create history by hopefully reaching the Final - that’s what our goal is now.

“I’m round Tommy’s on Friday night for a cup of tea.  Come Friday everything you can possibly do will be done and he will run through stuff and hopefully people who have spoken to me will help me.”

Halsey has done extensive homework on the club that could deny them a dream date against either Dunston UTS or Staveley Miners Welfare at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 13 March, which will see the Kent football family take over the iconic home of English football.


He said:  “I know everything. I’ve had them watched four times and I’ve had another phone call from another Northern club tonight, giving me a run down on their players and everything.

“I know everything about them and all I know about Herne Bay that everything I know on the day we’re capable of winning any game of football.”

Playing on the hallowed turf of Wembley Stadium is every footballer’s dream.

“It’s never going to happen again and this is one of the things I have to get into my players’, as will the three other managers that are doing exactly the same as me,” added Halsey.

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and we must grab it. It’s not very often, apart from Whitley Bay, who have been outstanding, and we must not let it slip from our hands.

“We will be doing our utmost.  Our preparations are right. The hotel and the flights are already booked for the following Friday.  We’re all dotted and crossed.  It’s what happens when we walk out over the two white lines over the two games.

“I want to enjoy it.  I want my players’ to enjoy it and I want everyone to look back on it in years’ to come and say what an excellent season this has been.”

Herne Bay’s leading goalscorer, 22-goal striker, Byron Walker, 25, however, is suspended for the second-leg up at Darlington Road -  a massive blow for the Kent club.

“He’s got to try and do what he does best and that’s scoring goals,” added Halsey.

“Yes, he’ll have a lot to prove on Saturday but it’s about my sixteen that are going to step out there and my 22-man squad in general who will get us through this season.”

Halsey, meanwhile, insists his side’s preparation will remain the same for the big game on Saturday.

He said: “We’ll train tomorrow night and if everyone comes through training I’ll make the final decision as I always do at quarter-to-two, when I give the sixteen the nod that their starting for me.

“Not one single thing will change. We will be doing exactly as we do every Friday night and Saturday morning.  Perhaps we’ll get to the ground early. Nothing’s changing in that respect. Everything is exactly as normal.”

There will be plenty of twists and turns and emotions during the 180+ minutes of nail-biting football ahead, but Halsey’s heroes have the heart, passion, desire and ability to go down in Kent football folklore and lift the FA Carlsberg Vase in May.

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 for Saturday's game:  
 
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