CAMEO DOE’S ROLLING IN IT
STALWART Scott Doe believed his only chance of heading to Wembley this season would be as a TV pundit – but he now reckons his experience under the arch will be invaluable in next month’s Isuzu FA Vase final.
The 35-year-old played a starring role as Romford saw off Lincoln United in a pulsating two-legged semi-final which culminated in a nail-biting penalty shoot-out last Saturday.
Centre-back Doe found the net as the Essex Senior League side prevailed 10-9 on spot-kicks to book a third Wembley appearance having won the League Two play-off final with Dagenham & Redbridge 14 years ago.
These days, Doe doubles up as a pundit on TNT Sports, but the former Weymouth, Boreham Wood and Dover defender is delighted to get one final chance to grace the hallowed turf before hanging up his boots.
“I didn’t think I would ever get back to Wembley as a player, having been there during my first full season in the Football League and with Boreham Wood in 2018,” he told The NLP.
“I thought the only way I would ever be involved in another Wembley final would be as a pundit for TNT Sports, but it is brilliant for me on a personal level because my kids weren’t born when I played in those two games.
“I have won and lost at Wembley, so I think my experience could be important considering we have some younger lads in the dressing room.
“There are four of us in the squad who have played there before, and it is up to us to keep everyone level-headed. We have to play the game and not the occasion.”
After seeing off Crawley Green, Mildenhall Town, Stanway Pegasus, Hilltop and North Greenford United, Boro completed the road to Wembley after Jamie Hursit dispatched his winning penalty at Lincoln.
But Doe revealed that Dan Spinks’ Romford only truly started believing they were capable of winning the Vase when they progressed into the semi-finals.
“It was after we beat North Greenford United in the quarter-finals that I noticed people starting to believe we could go all the way,” admitted the former England C international.
Priority
“Although we have players like Sam Deering and Remi Sutton in the squad, who have played at Wembley, a lot of our teammates are inexperienced and our manager is only in his first full season himself.
“It’s a fantastic achievement for us to get to the final and celebrating with the fans and the chairman was a special moment.”
Romford are also closing in on a play-off place and Doe believes they are capable of making it a season to remember by emerging victorious at Wembley and sealing a return to Step 4.
“Although winning promotion is our priority and the long run in the Vase is a bonus, there is no point getting all the way to Wembley unless you truly believe you can win,” he adds.
“We are capable of beating anyone on our day, but it is up to us to deliver a winning performance.”