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The FA Carlsberg Vase Final
2.30pm, Sunday 10 May 2009
Wembley Stadium
Winning club will receive £20,000 from The FA and runners-up will receive £10,000
To buy a match programme,
click here
Tickets will be available on match day from 10am via the East & West Ticket Offices priced at £20 for adults, £10 concessions
Living in London, playing football in Derbyshire. It’s a hectic weekend schedule for Dave Hodges, who balances life as a student at Brunel University with his commitments as Glossop North End's top goal scorer during their FA Carlsberg Vase run to Wembley.
Dave, it’s nearly 200 miles between London and Glossop, that’s a bit of a trek each week…
I usually travel up on a Friday afternoon and come back down on Sunday. At the start of the season I only did it every two weeks and it obviously means I can’t play midweek games, so it’s not ideal, but I enjoy playing football. With the team doing well I just wanted to carry on and be a part of it. This Vase run is not something you’d want to give up, and although it is quite a bit of effort, it’s well worth it.
It’ll be almost like a home game playing at Wembley, then…
It’s an amazing opportunity for us. I’ve been to the old Wembley twice to watch Leicester play, and the atmosphere on those occasions was amazing. Just to come to watch a game was a big deal, so to play here will be pretty special.
Like your trips to home matches, Glossop’s journey to The Final was certainly a demanding one…
We’ve played some of the favourites to win the tournament and it’s been a long, long run. We started in September and have played ten games in the competition since then, so it’s been a tough journey, but definitely worth it now.
What was your toughest game?
We played some decent teams, but Stewarts & Lloyds in the Fourth Round was hard; they were a very good side. When we went to Bitton, near Bristol, in the next round they were also very good, but probably Chalfont in the Semis were the best side we’ve come up against.
But now you can look forward to playing here at Wembley…
At our level it doesn’t get much better that reaching The Final of The Vase and getting to play at Wembley. A lot of professional players don’t get the chance to play here during their careers, so for us to do it is very exciting.
To read the full interview with Dave and also features with Glossop captain Dave Young and their manager Steve Young, check out the match programme for Sunday's Final. It's available from Wembley on match day, or you can buy online here...
