QUENT’S ON A SPY MISSION!
QUENTIN Townsend knows all about the noise Worcester City will bring to a crunch FA Vase derby – because he can hear them from his house!
The Stourport Swifts boss lives walking distance from Claines Lane, now the home of the former Conference giants and Hellenic League title chasers that the bookmakers have down as favourites to bag Wembley glory.
It is a club he knows well having been with the youth set-up prior to turning professional with Wolves – the only time of his life spent living outside of Worcester – before returning as a player in the late 90s. Dad Steve also used to work behind the scenes at City.
It was perhaps inevitable, then, that Swifts would be paired with their county neighbours for Saturday’s fifth round tie at Walshes Meadow as dreams of Wembley become increasingly vivid.
“There is a lot of history with me and Worcester but all of that goes out of the window when it comes to the game,” said Townsend.
“A lot of lads have played for both teams as well, probably more on their side that used to play for us.
“I don’t know what that means, really, whether they will be up for it more than usual. They may think that bit more about us because they know us so well, it is hard to tell.”
Momentum
City look imperious but Swifts have quietly built a fortress down by the River Severn, winning eight out of 10 unbeaten home league matches going into this weekend to put themselves in the thick of the Midland Football League Premier Division play-off hunt.
“I am quietly confident in our lads,” said Townsend.
“We are both at Step 5 but I do feel the Hellenic League is slightly weaker than the Midland Premier, I think that is widely known.
“They are flying and we know it will be a tough test but we are also on a really good run at home, hopefully they will be thinking about that just as much as we are thinking about their momentum.
“The pitch is not in the greatest condition and it doesn’t get much respite at this time of year, that will be a leveller.
“It is not as easy to play football on as both teams would like, it is going to turn into an old-fashioned scrap for second balls and see what happens.
“Maybe a set-play will win it and hopefully it will go our way.”
More than 1,300 tickets have been sold, meaning the attendance will trump the previous club record of 1,321 that Swifts set when hosting Hereford in 2015.
“It is a little piece of history that stays with you until it is beaten and it will be a great day,” added Townsend.
“That has been helped by Worcester being such a big, well-supported club. They got rid of their ticket allocation in 48 hours and financially, it is going to be good for a club like ours.
“We don’t have the resources that Worcester have so a gate like this will be superb.”