‘LET’S GIVE IT OUR BEST SHOT’
CONCORD RANGERS boss Danny Scopes says ‘pre-season’ games don’t come bigger than this.
The National League South Beachboys will host Step 4 Halesowen in the one-legged semi-final on Saturday with a chance of creating club history.
It’s a rapid turnaround for the Essex club who have only recently returned to full training with the Step 2 season not due to kick-off until October 3.
But Scopes knows the short time-frame is an obstacle to overcome and he’s just happy they have their shot at reaching Wembley.
“The circumstances are the circumstances and we’re going to have to accept that,” Scopes told The NLP. “Whatever the rules and conditions are, the time, there’s nothing we can do about that so the focus doesn’t change. I just wanted the club to have the opportunity to play the game and see where it takes us.
“You can’t hide it will be different, it could be different players, different squads, single leg – there are changes. But it’s still a game that gives you an opportunity to play at Wembley and play in a prestigious final. To have that opportunity, anyone would take it.
“It’s probably going to be one of the biggest pre-season games in history! I hated pre-season as a player, I always felt it was non-competitive and no one wanted to play to their limits. So to have a real competitive game in ‘pre-season’ is quite nice!”
While the ins and outs of player eligibility are still to be fully ironed out, Scopes says just having the dream re-ignited is all they wanted.
“It’s a bit mixed emotions because I’d almost told myself the dream had gone and the achievement was that we’d got to the semi-final,” he said.
“I’d convinced myself to put it on the backburner and our main focus was to try and have a successful season with the one that is coming.
“But this has come back in and it’s a bonus. We’re fortunate to get it back and it’s up to us to try and take that opportunity and give it our best shot.”
WALKING out at Wembley in the FA Vase final would be a dream for Hebburn Town manager Kevin Bolam.
The Hornets boss led the club’s reserve side to the Step 7 Wearside League title before stepping up to take charge of the first team in May last year.
His first season in charge of the South Tyneside club ended in disappointment as their promotion hopes were dashed when the coronavirus epidemic curtailed the Northern League season.
The virus also looked to have ended their historic FA Vase run.
It left their semi-final tie against Kent hopefuls Corinthian hanging in the balance.
But the recent announcement that the tie will now take place next Saturday has lifted Bolam’s spirits and left him dreaming of walking out at the home of football late next month.
He told The NLP: “It was a huge surprise that the job was available last year and to get the call from the board asking if I wanted the job was, too.
“I have enjoyed building on and off the pitch.
“We had a good season and I have to say that the support I have received from Stephen Rutherford (director of football) and Vin Pearson (chairman) has been first class.
“It’s not two games now, it’s one bite of the cherry and we will hopefully take a big bite and get through a very tough tie.
“We will give it everything we can, we will be prepared, we will be organised, and we will give it a shot.
“Corinthian will be a huge test. They ended last season well, it’s at their place, they know the pitch and surroundings and we have to be mentally ready for that.
“I try not to think about Wembley, but then it gets dropped on you and it’s all real again.
“You start dreaming and you can’t help it.”