CITY CAN REACH FOR THE STARS!

CANTERBURY CITY chairman Tim Clark believes their run to the FA Vase semi-final shows there is a real appetite for the club to return home.

Since reforming 12 years ago, the Southern Counties East League outfit have been groundsharing and, this year, play at Faversham Town’s Salters Lane. A recent planning proposal for their own ground in the famous Kent city was rejected – but Clark hopes a remarkable season will help their cause.

Last Sunday they reached the last four of the national competition following a 2-1 win over Biggleswade to set up two legs against league rivals Cray Valley (PM). It’s created a real buzz, helped by a viral video of Bola Dawodu signing before the game.

“It was our biggest crowd since we reformed, great atmosphere, great weather and a couple of great goals – we couldn’t have dreamed about this at the start of the season,” Clark told The NLP.

“We’ve battled on, kept in there – we’ve been underdogs all the way through – and this week has just been mad with the profile it’s given the club.

“Obviously Bola got us over a million views – we’re almost more famous for our singing and dancing than our football! We’ve had Match of the Day tweeting, Gary Lineker – in football terms it’s really put us on the map.”

They met with council chiefs on Monday, but are still planning for ten committee members to stand in May’s local elections aiming to help the club’s quest and also improve recreational facilities in the city.

“The spin-off from all of this is you can sense there is a real appetite for football in Canterbury,” Clark said.

“Groundsharing is not ideal at all because you’re paying out and not getting much back in. Really it means you’ve got one hand tied behind your back.

“I’ve always said we’d have a chance of mirroring what Maidstone United did. I have no doubts if we could get back to Canterbury we’d get home gates of 500 a week.”

Ben Smith’s side travel to Cray on Sunday, March 17, for the first leg before they host the return the following Saturday.

“We couldn’t quite believe getting to the last 16, then to get into the quarters,” Clark added. “Sunday was amazing.

“We’ve got a good bunch of lads, they believe in themselves and Ben got our tactics spot on.”