ADDER BOY! IT’S HOOD’S CHANCE

ATHERSTONE Town skipper Jamie Hood says a trip to Wembley will be the icing on a 20-year Non-League career. And while the 38-year-old centreback admits Saturday’s hosts Eccleshill United will provide a major obstacle, he believes there is enough talent in his Midland League Premier side to see them into the quarter-finals. “We know it’s going to be a tough game,” Hood said. “All matches against northern sides are tricky – they’re big, physical brutes.

“But if we can get the ball down and play then it will be interesting and there’s no reason why we can’t go all the way.”

Hood’s Warwickshire outfit saw off Step 6 Hartpury University 2-0 in the previous round and the skipper admits that some of that was down to having home advantage – the Adders have not lost at home for nearly four months. He said: “We knew it was going to be a battle because they were a young fit side but the pitch probably didn’t help them.

“The support is also very good down here and I think that probably sealed it. There were nearly 500 fans here and the Atherstone supporters are brilliant, following us home and away. When teams come out and face that number of fans bawling, shouting and screaming it is intimidating.” Hood had two stints with National League North side Leamington where he racked up more than 300 appearances and also starred for clubs including Halesowen Town, Barwell and Nuneaton Borough. But he insists that he is enjoying his football as much as ever. “I’ve probably played between 700 and 800 games in my 20 seasons and I still get those butterflies before a game. It helps with the lads that we have at the club because there’s a good mix of youth and experience.

“At my age when I probably just have another couple of years in me, it’s important to keep enjoying your football. You hear of people finishing playing at 31 or 32 and yet I’m still going at 38. I just keep soldiering on. I get up in the mornings and won’t be able to walk and get nagged at by the missus who’ll say I should pack it up. “Getting into the last 16 is a big achievement for a club like Atherstone but we said at the start of season that our aim was a top six or seven finish and a good run in the Vase. If we did get there it would be the icing on the cake. I’d play that game and be happy never kicking a ball again.”