Chorley are hoping to hit the high notes again
ADELE’S hit song Someone Like You resonates with FA Cup minnows Chorley. The nonLeague club’s version of the award-winning song took the internet by storm and the squad’s spontaneous renditions have been viewed nearly three million times.
There they were, 30 men singing in absolute unison to a tragic love ballad after embarrassing more illustrious opposition. Not once, but twice.
Chorley produced shocks to dump out Wigan and Peterborough and, having never come this far before, now have a presentable chance to go one further, given Derby’s entire first-team squad, including interim boss Wayne Rooney, are self-isolating after a spate of coronavirus cases.
Regardless of what happens when Derby’s kids arrive at the enchanting Victory Park, these players will always have their voices ringing inside the DW Stadium and London Road.
‘I know every word,’ goalkeeper Matt Urwin laughs. ‘It’s quite a strange choice but that song goes back a long time at this club, before I joined four years ago. When I think of Chorley, I think of that song.
‘I hold it very close to my heart. The world has seen that now, it has that magic feel.
‘Derby are still bringing good players. Look at their stature and academy structure. It’ll be no easy feat. Their lads will be eager to prove themselves. They’ll run for every ball, for every 50-50.
‘On paper, it looks a slightly easier tie but for us it’s an unknown quantity. It’ll still be very difficult. It could be a lot harder than people foresee.’
Adele soundtracked an improbable rise to the National League, secured two years ago for the first time since 1988. For Urwin, that play- off win over Spennymoor Town will never be topped, modestly neglecting to mention that he saved three penalties in the shootout.
Still part-time, Chorley suffered relegation from the fifth tier after last season’s cancellation. The only team left in the FA Cup plying their trade lower down the pyramid are Marine.
‘ Derby will enjoy the away dressing room,’ jokes Urwin. ‘ It probably hasn’t changed since they built it (in 1920). Wooden benches, stone floor. Not a lot going on. The showers aren’t particularly nice. I never used to be fond of visiting that room. Hopefully it has the same effect on them.
‘It depends how mentally strong you are. It doesn’t make much difference for me, it’s just your job. But it can dent enthusiasm for the game.’
Urwin, 27, spent his formative years in Blackburn’s academy. He has played just one professional game, a League Cup match for Bradford in 2014. There are two things that strike with him. One is proof of the general struggle for goalkeepers down the divisions, plenty of whom have dropped out of EFL academies. Effectively the only way to return is by earning promotion to League Two.
The second is that getting back there is not a necessity. Urwin coached Fleetwood’s academy until earlier this season, before switching to Blackpool.
He is enjoying the best of both worlds. ‘I was ready to leave Blackburn, my boyhood club, by the end,’ he said. ‘They had David Raya (now at Brentford), one of my really good friends now, coming through, and they rated him highly. Regardless of what I did, it was going to be very hard for me to progress any further.
‘I had to fly the nest and become a man. It’s a tough market though, purely because of the amount of talent being loaned from the bigger clubs.
‘I’d never say I don’t want to play professional football because I do and it was always my dream. But coaching is something I hold really dearly and it would take a lot to change what I do. It’s something I really love. If I can produce the next youngster for Blackpool, that would make me very proud.’