Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MR CHORLEY’S SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS
Magpies boss Vermiglio is also a headteacher who’s warmed up for Derby by sorting out his students’ educational needs during lockdown
IT IS fair to say no other FA Cup manager has had the week Chorley boss Jamie Vermiglio endured.
His day job is headteacher of Locking Stumps Community Primary School in Warrington, where he has wrestled with the implications of the latest lockdown.
The giant-killing coach had to put on hold plotting how to fell Derby while he arranged provision in school for keyworker children and online learning for those at home.
And Vermiglio admits that has meant a few late nights.
“It’s been an uncertain time and I’ve had to put Derby to the bottom of my li st of priorities,” he said. “It’s not come at a great time for me but the bigger picture is we have to make sure everyone is safe in our school community.”
The 38-year-old and his No.2 Andy Preece have still ensured Chorley are ready to add Derby to their League One scalps of Wigan and Peterborough, whether at lunchtime today or on a rearranged date because of freezing weather.
Preece, 53, has a fine FA Cup pedigree, bagging the winner in Stockport’s famous win over QPR in 1994, which earned him a move to the top flight and Crystal Palace.
“I scored a volley that was probably one of the best I ever scored,” said the former Bury and Blackpool striker.
“The crowd came on the pitch and I remember me and Kevin Francis being lifted off our feet and carried off the pitch. An amazing feeling. I love the FA Cup and you can see it hasn’t lost its meaning for our players.”
Chorley are 10th in the National League North, 83 places below Derby, and Vermiglio believes they can upset the Rams, who will be without boss Wayne Rooney and their first-team squad because of a Covid-19 outbreak. “The coronavirus has been a blow to them, but we’re still massive underdogs and they have a budget I don’t know how many times the size of ours,” he said. “But why can’t we upset them? Every season there’s a team that goes on a bit of a run. It’s us this time.
“We hope they don’t enjoy their trip to Victory Park. The weath er i s h el pi n g . Th e changing rooms were already cold and you wouldn’t want to sit on a toilet in there.”
The pitch has had a huge tent on it all week, with hot air blowing on to the playing surface to try to stop it from freezing for the televised tie.
Today will be a special moment for Vermiglio - Mr Chorley. The former midfielder made his debut for the Magpies nearly 20 years ago and has served them as captain , coach , assi stant manager and now manager.
And he reckons reaching the third round for the first time in the Chorley’s 138-year history has rescued them.
“I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say it’s saved the club,” he said. “The club told us at the start of the season they would commit to pay our wages. We might not get them every week or on time or all this season, but they would look after us.
“With this run, I think we’ve made £200,000 to £250,000.”