WANDER-FUL CUP STORY!
FA CUP fever is sweeping through the sleepy English stockbrokerbelt market town of Dorking.
And Marc White (below) can barely believe the transformation at the Wanderers since he formed a park football club with mates 22 years ago.
After 12 promotions in 19 completed seasons the team are homing in on the English Football League, in the Conference South.
And tomorrow founder, chairman and also manager White will lead his side into a fourth qualifying round tie against Hayes and Yeading at Meadowbank hoping to earn a debut crack at the first round proper.
White has done it all, from washing the kit to hanging the nets and putting a rope around the pitch.
And having managed the side from the days when a few friends chucked in a fiver each for the pitch hire, he admits it might be time to think about some coaching badges.
White left his job as an advertising executive to start a marketing company, allowing himself more time with the club.
White said: “I have been the manager from day one as well as being a player back then but I haven’t done any coaching badges. I honestly don’t know at what level I might need them!
“In business I had a leadership role at a young age in advertising, and being a football nut and a decent player as a lad the two seemed to combine in the manager role.
“Being a football manager is 80 per cent man- management and decision- making, and then I surround myself with a team of coaches, scouts and physios.
“A tremendous group of people got us here. I used to take my daughters along to wash the kit. I’ve put a rope that was donated as we couldn’t afford it around the pitch.
“We had to dig a trench at Westhumble, near Box Hill where there was no power, water, anything — so you went down a foot and it was pure chalk. Digging was a nightmare.
“Fans and local volunteers and businesses have been terrific, we have around 65 partners.
“There are now 58 teams from Under- 4s through the first team to walking football. And it has all been done without much of a plan, just dealt with what was in front of us.
Tough
“It has been bloody tough, insanely tough to get where we are.
And last season we were top of the Conference South when it got cancelled. We would have had to go full-time had we gone up.
“A first appearance in the FA Cup first round would give us some recognition for what has happened here because it isn’t big money thrown in, just a lot of work.”
Striker Jason Prior was Dorking’s first signing for money at
€ 17,700, one of only two. The non- league stalwart once had a three- week trial with Newcastle and saw his Football League dream shattered by injury after a move to AFC Wimbledon.
Prior said: “I thought the Newcastle trial went well and was disappointed not to get a deal with the
Under-23s.”