We get on the road with Colne FC for their big cup trip to Gateshead
IT’S 8.30am and the players of Colne FC have two pretty important things on their minds.
England’s rugby aces have just kicked off their World Cup quarter-final against Australia in Japan, but there’s also the small matter of the Lancashire club’s historical FA Cup trip to Gateshead to stay focused on.
Sitting alongside the team and the directors on the luxury coach departing their Sovereign Play Stadium, we all head, in great sprits, towards the Newcastle Gateshead Hilton Hotel where manager Steve Cunningham delivers a rousing speech over a pre-match meal before the short trip to the International Stadium – the furthest trip the club have had in their short 23-year history.
“Today is about you, the players, and your reward for all the hard work you have put in to get here,” Cunningham told them.
An epic FA Cup journey that had already seen Colne play six games – all but one away from home – was to take the Northern Premier League North West Division outfit to the north-east to take on a Gateshead side who are enjoying a fine run of form in National League North having only been demoted from the top-flight for financial reasons in the summer.
“Win, lose or draw today, we know that the players have already achieved more than we could have expected,” said chairman Ryan Haig.
“To reach this far in the FA Cup has meant so much to the whole community.”
Inspiration
Colne had been allowed the use of Fleetwood Town’s coach for the trip to Gateshead – as they had for the trip to Dunston in the third qualifying round.
“We can’t thank Fleetwood enough for their help over the last few weeks,” Haig added, perhaps sitting in the seat usually occupied by Cod Army boss Joey Barton.
“I have taken so much inspiration from Andy [Pilley, chairman], his help and advice will be vital as we move forward as a club,” he said.
But despite all their good preparation, and no doubt buoyed by England’s 40-16 win, the trip to Gateshead ultimately proved a step too far. The loss of central defender Matt Makinson early in the first half didn’t help – the Heed eventually running out 5-0 victors thanks to four second half goals.
Whilst their FA Cup dream may be over for another year – one agonising step short of a place in the first round alongsidse the likes of Fleetwood – Colne can be proud of the progress they have made, especially under Cunningham’s tenure.
In his six years at the helm the club have won promotion, reached play-off finals and cup finals whilst improving each year.
Far from being down, proud Cunningham said: “It’s been a great run for us, nobody expected us to get to this stage and I still think some people don’t fully understand just what we’ve achieved. It’s been an amazing feat to have played six ties, including replays, to reach this stage.
“Today was tough to take but they’re a full-time club two leagues above us, they had won five games in a row at home, all with a clean sheet, so it was always going to be a big ask. I do think that the final score flattered them because for long periods we were in the game. Regardless of the result I can only be proud of my lads, they can hold their heads up high and we will all go again next week at Kidsgrove.”
Chairman Haig had the final say, adding: “Sometimes in football you lose a game and it feels unfair, today we have lost by a score that I felt we didn’t deserve but had we lost by a single goal I think I would have been more upset. On reflection it’s been a great day out and has left us all wanting to reach the same round again and maybe take that next step.”