LOSE, THEN THAT’S YER LOT, WARNS ARMSTRONG
DARLINGTON manager Alun Armstrong will now be able to motivate his players ahead of their FA Trophy quarter-final with a simple ultimatum – lose and they’re not playing again!
The National League North club have had their league season abandoned but have the chance to extend their campaign in the cup competition.
The Quakers voted against playing on because of the lack of grant funding at Steps 1 and 2 although will progress with their tie against Isthmian League Premier side Hornchurch – the lowest-ranked team left in the FA Trophy – due to the prize money on offer.
“It’s up to the players, do they want the season to end or do they want it to continue?” Armstrong told The NLP.
“This could be the last game of the season – if you don’t win, you don’t play again. They know what’s at stake, it’s going to be a tough game. We’ve been the underdogs in a couple of ties and we’ve come out smiling, now it’s on the other foot.”
Darlington, FA Trophy winners in 2011, have beaten National League sides Weymouth and Wealdstone in the last two rounds to reach this stage.
They were rewarded with a home tie against Hornchurch, but Armstrong, the former Middlesbrough and Ipswich Town striker, admits he is wary of their opponents – especially having already beaten King’s Lynn Town and Maidstone United on route to the last eight.
“I love it when people say it’s the team you would have wanted, Wealdstone and Weymouth probably wanted us!” he said.
“I think it’s probably one of the hardest ones. It’s a little bit of the unknown, they haven’t been playing league games, they’re not from our league structure, I’ve had a couple of reports sent in and have video.
“These games are a lot tougher than people think. I much prefer being the underdog, it’s a lot easier!
“We’ve got a massive opportunity and we have to play at the same standards we have been. We have to give them the respect they deserve.
“When we got through we thought we would be getting Torquay away! We’ve had Swindon, Bristol Rovers, Weymouth and Wealdstone away in the cups this year. We’ve got to make home advantage count.”
The added incentive for Armstrong and his players is that by the time the final is held at Wembley, it’s possible some supporters could be allowed in.
“At the start of the season we knew it was going to be a strange one with no fans, we prioritised the cup a little bit for the income,” he added. “When you see Brackley win it a couple of years ago it shows you can win it from this league.
“We can solely concentrate on this now and the target is Wembley. There’s little whispers fans might be allowed in by that time which certainly would be a massive boost for the club if that was the case.”