Vase success not really sunk in yet

Chairman Tim Clark admits it will probably take a while for the fact that City are in the FA Vase semi-finals to sink in.

City, 12th in the Southern Counties East League, have come though eight games in the competition so far, and Mr Clark admits the run has far exceeded the club’s expectations.

He said: “We’re in the last four from 638 starters, it’s unbelievable.

“We just could not have dreamed of this at the start of the season.

“We haven’t historically had very good cup runs, I think the last cup we won was here (at Faversham) about eight years ago so it’s brilliant.

“I think we started off this competition at 100/ 1, we came into this game 25/1 and Biggleswade were 12/1 but we keep surprising people.

“The league form has been sporadic but to go on a cup run like this is brilliant.

“It probably still hasn’t fully sunk in yet, it might do later.”

Sunday’s 2-1 home quarterfinal win over Biggleswade was watched by a crowd of 602 – City’s biggest since re-forming – and Mr Clark hopes that fact won’t be lost on the city council, who earlier this month refused a planning application which included a new ground for the club at Highland Court.

Among those in attendance on Sunday was Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield, who watched the first half despite the fact it

‘We just could not have dreamed of this at the start of the season’