FA VASE SEMI-FINAL SPECIAL Reports: STEVE TERVET Captain Delo on a mission

Jack Delo wants to make injured captain Laurence Harvey proud by leading Canterbury City to the FA Vase final. Head injuries have ruled Harvey and his deputy, Liam Quinn, out for the season so goalkeeper Delo has taken the armband. Harvey sustained serious damage to his cheekbone and eye socket in a match last month, while Quinn was involved in a collision which caused a small bleed on his brain. Delo said: “I’m gutted for Laurence Harvey, the club captain, because he’s a massive loss for us and then to lose Liam was another big blow. “To take it over from those two, I’ll hopefully do them proud and we’ll get them to the final. “If we did get to Wembley and win, I’d want Laurence to walk up the steps. I’d be right behind him, of course, but I’d love him to do it because the injury he had, at the stage of the season, it’s been so disappointing for him and us as a club because he was really stepping up and being the big skipper we needed. “I’ve been captain at previous clubs so it’s something I am used to doing. “I’m quite vocal on the pitch, trying to get the boys going. I’m not one to shout and scream at the players in the changing room but if they’re not doing it, I will tell them. “I just try to keep everyone positive.” Delo, 33, has years of experience with Folkestone and Herne Bay but has described this Vase run as the biggest achievement of his career. He said: “Coming to the end of my career, it’s a very special feeling and the buzz around the place is really good. “I’ve been doing this since I was 17. I’ve done the travelling and played at most non-league grounds at this standard, Ryman South and the Ryman Premier. “I won the play-offs with Folkestone so I’ve had a little bit of success but over the long period of time I’ve played, I’ve not won many cup finals. “To be in an FA Vase semifinal with a chance of getting to Wembley has to be up there and it’s getting quite scary now because we are literally 180 minutes away from everyone’s dream. “It’s put us on the map and made people take notice of us.” He added: “For the club, it’s massive because it attracts fans through the gates and players want to come here now so the whole thing’s been positive.”

Stacy Davis Joe Kennett Stuart King

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