SUPER SLAV SEALS IT WITH A KISS
DORKING WANDERERS’ latest promotion was literally sealed with a kiss.
The club formed in 1999 only as a bit of fun are actually taking things quite seriously.
Goalkeeper Slavomir Huk was a Slovakian superstar as they beat Corinthian-Casuals on penalties last weekend – and not just because of his performance in the shoot-out.
If it wasn’t for his display over 120 minutes there is no way the Ryman South play-off final would have needed to be settled from 12 yards.
Huk, who has been playing in the UK since coming to England with girlfriend Maria in 2014, credited the one he loves with inspiring the victory that keeps Wanderers on a roll.
“Maria was here watching and before the penalty kicks she called me over to see her,” he told The NLP. “She gave me a kiss and wished me luck. Maybe that helped!
“I moved to England because my girlfriend came because of her work – I just followed her. I started playing as soon as I arrived, for Leatherhead Under 21s and I couldn’t get into any other clubs!
“I used to play back home but in England it’s a different experience. Not many people in Slovakia know about Dorking but my friends and family they all do and I know how happy this will make them.”
Marc White is not only the team manager, he is also the club’s cofounder and the chairman.
Starting the club 17 years ago, he just wanted somewhere for him and his friends to play on a Saturday afternoon and to “get drunk together after matches”.
Well after rising from the West Sussex League Division Five in 2004, they are now just three promotions away from the Football League. That’s worth drinking to.
Ending the season with 105 points, the same number as champions Tooting & Mitcham, don’t discount Dorking in the Ryman Premier next season. White isn’t afraid to put his money where his mouth is and with a new ground now only months away, we may not have seen the club’s rise finish quite yet.
Huk added: “There is great ambition at the club. I love to be a part of what is happening here and maybe we can carry on next season, who knows?
“It feels amazing, it means the world to me. I think we have played great football all season at the club and to get promotion finally, it’s fantastic.”
Huk received quite a compliment from the beaten Corinthian-Casu- als manager James Bracken in the aftermath of the final shoot-out defeat.
“That’s the closest I have ever seen to a player giving a 10/10 performance,” he said.
“I don’t think he put a foot wrong and he was the difference between us going up and not.”