‘Win this one and you’ll be for as long as people want
Turnbull’s rallying cry for Vase tie
Boss Glenn Turnbull is calling on his US Portsmouth record-breakers to create memories that will last a lifetime.
US host higher-division Christchurch in an allWessex League FA Vase fourth round tie at the Victory Stadium tomorrow (noon).
The winners will progress to the last 16 and will be just three more wins away from stepping out at Wembley on May 22.
US have already created club history by reaching the fourth round - the best they had previously managed in 29 seasons (including 13 as Portsmouth Royal Navy) was the second round.
That is also further than AFC Portchester, Fareham or Horndean have ever gone in the Vase, while Baffins’ best is the fourth round in 2018/19.
Turnbull’s history-makers have already knocked out three of Christchurch’s Wessex Premier rivals - AFC Portchester, Bournemouth Poppies and Brockenhurst – in the Vase in 2020/21.
In their last competitive game on December 19, US defeated Millbrook - like themselves, a step 6 club - 3-2 in the third round.
Millbrook boasted a better points-per-game average in the curtailed South West Peninsula League campaign than Falmouth, who only lost on penalties to Christchurch in their third round Vase tie.
‘No-one expected us to beat Portchester, or Brockenhurst, or Millbrook, but we’ve kept on going deeper and it’s been a fantastic experience,’ said Turnbull.
‘Games against Totton & Eling are year in year out, but win on Saturday and it’s something you will be able fa e A c
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Christchurch travel to the Victory Stadium r the lunch i clash with a last 16 trip to talk about for as long as people want to listen.
‘There’s lots of different inspirations. We’re friends with Graeme (Gee) and Miles (Rutherford) at Chichester - they’ll always remember their FA Cup day out at Tranmere.
‘Wilko (Shaun Wilkinson) can’t stop telling you about the day he played (for Hawks) at Anfield.
‘That’s the opportunity for our players now, to do something out of the norm.
‘For some of
I’d say this is the biggest game of their careers.
‘It’s definitely the biggest I’ve had. Possibly not for Fraser (Quirke, assistant manager) or Barto (coach Paul Barton), but it is for me. ‘I’ve been blown away by the number of people messaging me wishing us good luck. Cliff Pledge at
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Radio Solent wants to talk to me - it puts it all into context.
‘The non-league community have rallied round, I’ve had a few different scouting reports on Christchurch. Undoubtedly, they’ve had the same on us.
‘We’ve watched some videos and based some of our training sessions around how we think they’ll play.
‘We feel we will be as well prepared as we can be.’
Based on results over the last two league seasons, Christchurch and USP boast the best
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It’s going to come down to a good oldfashioned cup tie and who wants it most on the day
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That’s the opportunity for our players now, to do something out of the norm
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