We've given everything on that field, says Herne Bay hero Byron Walker

HERNE BAY striker Byron Walker says he wants to win The FA Carlsberg Vase because of the friendly bond between the squad at Winch's Field.
 

Walker, 25, who lives in Walderslade, scored the first of Herne Bay’s goals in their heroic 2-1 win away to Hellenic League outfit Shortwood United as the Kent Hurlimann Football League leaders booked their place in the semi-finals of The FA Carlsberg Vase for the very first time in their proud 125 year history.

Gloucestershire outfit Shortwood went into the game with an unbeaten record of sixteen home games this season and when Herne Bay were reduced to ten-men after only 43 SECONDS, the Kent side faced a mountain to climb.

But having had Tom Parker sent off after 29 minutes of their heroic 1-0 home win over Larkhall Athletic in the last round, Herne Bay put on a another display full of desire and backed by around 250 travelling supporters, goals from Walker and Steve Hanson ensured it was a special day for the club.

Herne Bay are now only 180 minutes away from playing at Wembley Stadium and they join Derbyshire outfit Staveley Miners Welfare and two club’s in the North East, West Auckland Town (near Darlington) and Gateshead outfit Dunston UTS in tomorrow’s eagerly awaited semi-final draw.

“That’s the dream, that’s the dream,” said Walker, who has previously played for (in alphabetical order) Chatham Town, Dover Athletic, Erith & Belvedere, Margate and Thamesmead Town.

“Some players only get an opportunity to watch other people play at Wembley. To actually go and play they’re yourself, I think is any players’ dream.

“Over two legs, I don’t remember the last time we’ve ever played two legs and not come out victorious but it will still be a challenge.

“The team we’ve got won’t be a bad side but we get two cracks of it.  If we can go away and come back with a good result, I fancy anyone we play at home for us to win.  It’s our own turf and it’s on our ground.”

When asked the secret behind the club’s success – they have only lost three times all season, at home to Erith Town in The FA Cup, at home to Sevenoaks Town in the Umbro Kent Senior Trophy and away to VCD Athletic in the Kent League - Walker revealed the friendship inside the confines of the dressing room.

“You have to be in that dressing room to see how much the team is all one,” revealed Walker, who scored his 22nd goal of the season yesterday.

“Normally you go into a dressing room and everyone knows each other and maybe do things out of football here and there and only talk at football training.

“We’re all lads who all get on well.  It feels like a team full of my friends.  To manage to get to Wembley, win the League and a League Cup with your friends, I don’t know what’s better.

“To see the fans’ to respond in the way they respond, to create history for a club that has so much support, has so much potential, hopefully we’ll get them to the Ryman League next year and have a good crack at that league as well.”

Walker paid tribute to manager Simon Halsey, 47, who is on course to emulate treble chasing legend Tommy Sampson in 1996-1997.

“Simon’s done a fantastic job, he’s behind us all the way,” said Walker, “He’s very supportive, very emotional sometimes, but he does believe in what we do and provides us with the desire and the ambitions.

“He tells us to go out there and give 100%, don’t walk off that field with no regrets and I think we can do that with our heads held high.

“We’ve given everything on that field and we’ve come away with the win.”

Walker admitted yesterday was one of his proudest days in football.

“One of my proudest moments?  I’ve had a few, but to score in the FA Vase quarter-final, to get this club another stage further than they’ve ever been, it’s not something that a lot of players’ get to achieve so most definitely, yes!”

When asked what he does for a living, Walker replied “teacher,” and explained that he faces challenges both on and off the field

“I teach students (in Newington, near Sittingbourne) who have been excluded from mainstream education so my challenge is on the pitch, also my challenge is in the classroom,” he said.

“I try to be a role-model, I try to lead by example.  I try to get the ones who have come off track, have made a few wrong decisions. I try and get them back on track to get them back to where they should be in life.

“A lot of people do follow the club, they’ll come in on a Monday and say they’ve noticed me score or I haven’t scored and we gave a bit of banter with some of my students.

“They’ll be chuffed that we’re now in the semi-finals. A lot of them know where Wembley is, they know that England play there.”

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

VCD Athletic  v  Herne Bay
Macron Kent League Cup Semi-Final First Leg
Tuesday 6^th March 2012
Kick Off 7:45pm
at Oakwood, Old Road, Crayford, Kent DA1 4DN