TROPHY TWISTS
Spotlight on the teams just three steps from Wembley
MARK STIMSON’S love affair with the FA Trophy is showing no signs of burning out – but the competition’s successful boss says this time is all about his Hornchurch players.
Stimson lifted NonLeague’s premier silverware four times in the 2000s – once as a player with Canvey Island before a hattrick of wins as manager of Grays and Stevenage, including the first back at the new Wembley.
Now the former Gillingham boss is up to his old Trophy tricks with Pitching In Isthmian Premier side Hornchurch dumping out National League King’s Lynn to keep up their remarkable run.
Despite not having competitive games and limited training sessions, their penalty shoot-out triumphs set-up a fifth round home tie with Maidstone United.
And Stimson laughs when asked just what is it with him and the competition?
“When I finished at the end of my playing career down at Canvey we set something up there that was unreal at the time,” Stimson told The NLP.
“Then I obviously went into management and had three very good finals, all at different venues that made it more exciting. Villa Park, Upton Park with Grays, and the first big one at Wembley with Stevenage was outstanding.
“I don’t say too much to my players about it because it is their time. But I remind them it is a very good competition and if you do get to the final, wow, it is some venue you are going to play at.
“To be honest, for teams at our level, where we are now is sort of our cup final. We have to take each game like that and enjoy the moment.”
Tempted
Stimson’s Grays sides included future Premier League players like Michael Kightly and Gary Hooper.
But the star of the last round was keeper Joe Wright, with three saves in the shoot-out against Lynn.
“Joe’s got this method he uses – it’s good,” Stimson said. “Even from the sidelines I’m thinking where Joe will go because of what he has told me – it’s top secret! He was absolutely outstanding. It was a lovely Saturday evening, I must say.
“The last league game was November 3 so it’s been a long, long while. You don’t know whether the Trophy games are going ahead. Obviously they have – we beat
Wingate at home, then we went to Tonbridge and beat them, then Dulwich and you think, ‘Wow, how long can it keep going?’
“To put that performance in on Saturday after a short period of training, full credit to the players for the work they are doing outside of football to keep in shape.
“This group of players are capable of playing a higher level. It shows where we’ve lost three boys who, since lockdown, have gone to play in the National League South.
“The hardest thing is getting there because the Isthmian
“It’s another difficult one,” Stimson said. “We played Maidstone in pre-season and I know Hak and Terry Harris quite well. They’ve got a good group of players. They beat Dorking to get through so it’s going to be a tough, tough challenge.
“But we’ll turn up and enjoy it. We’ve got some good football players in the team. Hopefully they get a chance to show their ability.
“It’s about taking chances. Most teams create two or three a game and it’s if you take that chance at that moment.”