TT INTERVIEW
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Steve talks about the Magpies
ABOUT ME
I started following Wimborne in late 1991/early 1992, during the FA Vase run and got hooked. I followed them for a few years but after I got married and then had kids drifted away from live football and Wimborne specifically for a long time! Started watching again in 2018 when my dad took me to the Southern League Play off final. Realised what I was missing and have stayed a fan since. Rich (from @wimborne_fc) has a similar story except he was first taken along in 1981 and is one of the few fans to remember both our FA Cup 1st round appearance in 1982 at Aldershot and the FA Vase Final. Like myself he drifted away with marriage/kids etc, but getting disillusioned with the cost of P/L matches (he loves West Ham) returned to WTFC, also in 2018.
FORM
Well our recent form was very very good until we lost on pens in the FA Trophy at Exmouth last weekend after leading 3-1 with 5 mins left!. But we’re in the top 3 or 4 of our league and playing some of the best football we’ve seen in years so all good. The injuries are a worry and suspension thanks to Oakley’s sending off last week.
DRAWING THE GULLS
We are ecstatic! This is the biggest FA Cup match we’ve ever had at home. We did draw Maidstone in 2020 (and beat them on pens) but sadly it was in the Covid era and only about 260 saw it at the old Cuthbury. This is much much bigger for us. Most of my life Torquay have been a football league club and still have the fanbase for a league club. The Tim Sills connection is just unreal for this tie giving added spice.
KEY PLAYERS
Look out for Jez Bedford our tricky winger and Matt Neale. They are a real handful this season. Harry Baker is lethal in the box. He has scored in nearly every match I think. Sam Jackson has also been a brilliant signing. Works so hard.
SILLSY
Sillsy arrived just under a year ago with the team at a low ebb. He took us on an amazing unbeaten run from Oct to Feb but after we were humiliated at Bashley, form faded away and whilst we made the play offs it was clear we weren’t ready. It wasn’t his team to be fair and he has added real quality in the summer. I think realistically we are a stepping stone for him and he will end up managing higher (Torquay?!!). But overall the fans are definitely onboard and can see the improvements he has made and the playing style this season is so good.
PRE-MATCH REFRESHMENTS
Ah, not so good this one as the ground is on a new estate a mile from the town centre with no local pubs, but I understand you will have your own bar in the away end so win, win. For pubs, Wimborne has many but I would recommend the Cricketers or the Green Man. The latter is a bit further out but was the WTFC pub when we were at the old ground and is a proper old school pub serving Wadworth Ale. For food, Cricketers or Rising Sun normally do food, avoid the Olive Branch as you need to sell a kidney and the service is awful! There is a spoons too in town.
FACTS ABOUT THE CLUB
We are an old club who until 2022 had never been relegated, spending most of our time in the Western and Wessex Leagues before two promotions in the 2000/2010s era. Our old ground had a sloping pitch which was at least a match for the old Yeovil ground at Huish. Harry Redknapp was a director for a brief period and our academy is run by Matty Holmes, ex AFCB, West Ham and Blackburn footballer. Our FA Vase final in 1992 was apparently voted one of the top 100 matches at the old Wembley. We’ve only made the first round proper of the FA cup once in our entire 145 year history!
PREDICTION
My prediction is that we will draw and have a replay at Torquay next week!! We’re better away than at home so don’t write us off if it’s a draw! We also beat Yeovil in pre-season so we’re by no means feeling daunted by this game, although obviously you guys will be favourites!
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