GOWENS IS RIGHT AT HOME
Bay boss eyes new Vase venture
ANDY GOWENS knows a thing or two about what it takes to be successful in the FA Vase.
He was the man who led Northern League club Whitley Bay to their first of four Vase Final wins back in 2002.
Ian Chandler was the match-winner for Gowens that day as his header saw off Tiptree United at Villa Park.
Then, the striker went on to manage the Seahorses to historic treble of Vase Finals wins between 2009 and 2011.
The North Tyneside club remains the most successful club in the competition and now with Gowens back in the dugout are ready to start the road to Wembley once again.
They travel to Northern League Division Two club
Esh Winning in the First Qualifying Round next Saturday and Gowens is hopeful that his current crop of players can create new memories for the club.
“It’s a special competition and it’s very special for Whitley Bay,” explained the Seahorses boss.
“There is a lot of history for us to build on and it would be great to have a big run in the competition, but we can’t afford to look past Esh Winning, because that is a difficult place to go.
“It’s 16 years since we won the Final and it’s always been a holy grail, I love the competition and at this level it’s about working-class lads playing on the hallowed turf of Wembley.
Respect
“We won’t be looking that far because Esh is a banana skin; we will pay them the same respect we pay other clubs in our league.
“Everybody wants to beat Whitley Bay in the Vase because of our history, Esh will be no different.”
A win at Esh could see Whitley Bay land an away tie at 1981 winners Whickham, if the Lang Jacks can see off a Jarrow FC side making their first ever appearance in the competition.
Two more former winners from the Northern League kick off their interest in this season’s competition next Saturday as North Shields and Dunston UTS face home ties against Consett and Heaton Stannington respectively. Stansted, winners in 1984, kick off their Vase run with a home game against Brantham Athletic, while St Helens Town travel to Ashton Town, 31 years after their 3-2 Vase Final win over Warrington Town. A number of Hellenic League clubs will be looking to match the heroics of Thatcham Town.
Action
The Kingfishers are the current Vase holders after their 1-0 win over Stockton Town in last season’s final.
Danny Robinson’s side are now plying their trade in the Evo-Stik Southern League Division One but a number of their former Hellenic League rivals are in Vase
action next weekend. Binfield host Frimley Green and Ascot United travel to Barlows Park to face Tadley Calleva. Eversley & California entertain Downton at Fox Lane and Woodley
United head to Surrey for their tie at Chertsey Town.
There are several preparing for their first ever appearance in the Vase.
Southern Counties Football League Division One side AFC Varndeanians make their bow with a visit to Combined Counties side Knaphill, while Eastern Counties League First Division South table-toppers
White Ensign travel to Stanway Rovers. Midland League club NKF Burbage entertain Lutterworth Town and GNP Sports head to Boldmere St Michaels.
The club that face the shortest trip to the national stadium will be Wembley and their Vase campaign kicks off with a trip to Combined Counties Premier Division club AFC Hayes.
This year’s competition kicks off on Friday night with AFC Emley’s home fixture against Litherland REMCYA and Biggleswade United’s away tie at Wormley Rovers.