ONE FINAL PUSH TO REALISE OUR ULTIMATE DREAM,URGES STIMSON

MARK Stimson says his Hornchurch players have already created lifelong memories with their epic run to the semi-finals – but the wily boss wants them to give everything against Notts County to realise the ultimate dream. The Pitching In Isthmian Premier side took their fifth higher-league scalp of this season’s competition when they beat Darlington 2-1 away last weekend. A trip to Meadow Lane doesn’t come much tougher but Stimson couldn’t be prouder of his side who just keep upsetting the odds. Darlo were added to a scalp list that includes Tonbridge Angels, Dulwich Hamlet, King’s Lynn Town and Maidstone United. And it’s put them one game from Wembley. “They won’t ever forget what they’ve done by getting this far in the competition,” Stimson said. “It’s now trying to get the ultimate dream. The ultimate dream, for any player, is to get to Wembley. “So they’ll never forget what they’ve done. But now they can maybe make a dream come true and go that one step more. “Notts County will be the same. Their players will be desperate to play at Wembley – it’s the stadium of our country and known all over the world. “So we know what we’re going to face. We’re certainly going to prepare the best way possible. We did that last weekend with the massive help of our fans. They set-up a funding page to raise money for us to go away to Darlington and this trip as well. “We’re going to do everything possible. On the day, we will give everything. And what’s to be, is to be.” Stimson has already written his name in FA Trophy folklore with three consecutive wins as manager – the first two with Grays Athletic and the hat-trick completed with Stevenage in the first competitive game under the arch.

Herculean

He also won it as a player in 2001 with Canvey Island and it’s why he can really sit back and appreciate watching his players enjoy their achievements. With no league games since the beginning of November, it has been a herculean effort and Stimson says it just shows the characters he has in his side. “I’ve been really fortunate,” Stimson says. "fluid a group at Grays who were a group of fantastic people but could also play as well Some of those guys went on to, wow - Gary Hooper played Champions League football. Your Kightlys, Eastwoods, Thurgoods, John Nutter played for me at Steve nage and Gillingham. Then I was fortunate at Stevenage to have the same band there But when you go into Non-League part-time, that's din cult This group is on per with those two grows because they are so together-"What's noticeable are the training sessions They have become more like matches. They're so competitive - but in the right way They test each

other. We ask them to because when you’re in a league like ours that is so difficult to get out of, you ask them to give everything. They’ve done that and that’s helped us so much in this Trophy run because obviously we’ve played against teams a lot higher than us.” Neal Ardley’s National League Notts County will be their toughest test yet. “You don’t have to say anything about Notts County, do you really?” Stimson says. “It’s great we’re going to be on the same playing field, both playing for a place to go to one of the best stadiums in the world. I can’t wait for it. “For the boys, it’s a brand new experience. I spoke to them on Saturday and how many have played in the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy before? There was none. So it was an experience and this is another one. “For myself, because I’ve got the experience of being there, I probably appreciate this even more and realise what an achievement it is. “I’ve just got to make sure they try to perform how they have in the last seven games, now, in this competition. “I’m sure they will be a period in the tie where we create chances. On Saturday just gone, we took our chances and Darlington didn’t take theirs. We’re thankful we’re in the semi-final now.”