FALMOUTH TOWN
FALMOUTH Town supporters considered chartering another plane to Southend for their Isuzu FA Vase quarter-final clash against Great Wakering Rovers – but have instead settled on a near 24-hour coach round trip.
Town’s famous F Troop rented their very own aircraft to fly to the Channel Islands for the club’s 3-0 fifth round victory against Jersey Bulls, with around 250 supporters in total making the trip for the game.
Another long round away trip – around 700 miles in total – awaits Town this weekend and boss Andrew Westgarth has hailed the Western League outfit’s loyal supporters.
“There were talks of chartering a plane from Cornwall to Southend, it might actually be harder to get to Southend than to Jersey,” Westgarth said.
“I think the supporters left Falmouth for Jersey at 8am and were back at 8pm – this time the coach is leaving at around 4.30am in the morning and returning at 3am in the morning so almost a 24-hour trip. We have very dedicated supporters for this level of football.
“Our big supporter Jeff Chambers got the idea of chartering a plane and sold it within two days, there were 80 people on
By Matthew Luddington
the plane and we probably had about 250 fans over there.
“What a venue Jersey is, it’s a great facility, it was a sunny day, it wasn’t a 3-0 game but we took our chances, and it was good solid away performance from us, overall really pleasing.”
Falmouth have won seven games to reach this stage – equalling the club’s best ever run in the competition in 1987 – and Westgarth is daring to dream about Wembley.
“We started the competition back in August in the preliminary rounds, we faced Moneyfields who were fancied quite highly,” he adds. “Barnstaple was a good performance, Hartpury University were favourites against us and Jersey was a great day.
“Since 1987 – the first and only time this club has got to the quarter-final of the Vase – only two Cornwall teams have reached the semi-final. We’re representing the county, the league and the town which is great.
“It’s hard not to think about Wembley, that’s why you play the game, you want to dream, you want to think why not and if you dream it long enough than it can come true.”