10 Oct 2008
VIDEO: Newport County 1-2 Dorchester Town
See the match hightlights as Dorchester progressed through the Second Round Qualifying.

Dorchester Town v Gosport Borough
The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
Third Round Qualifying
3pm, Saturday 11 October 2008
Winning clubs will receive £7,500 from The FA



It is not often that someone who helped England achieve their best World Cup finish since 1966 takes part in the Third Round Qualifying  of The FA Cup - but Dorchester Town manager Shaun Brooks will do just that on Saturday.

Brooks was a key member of the behind-the-scenes team in the 2001 hit film 'Mike Bassett England Manager' in which the fictional squad travelled to Brazil for the World Cup where they were eventually beaten by the hosts in the semi-final.

After hanging up his boots in 1996, the former Crystal Palace player studied sports therapy and nutrition before becoming a personal trainer, and it was this experience that helped him land a job on the film working alongside the likes of Ricky Tomlinson and Bradley Walsh.

Brooks explained: "It came about through a friend of mine, Andy Ansah, who was involved in the Dream Team programme on Sky.

"He was the football technician for the film and at the time I was a personal trainer. It was my job to get the actors into shape for the film and I worked with them for a couple of months. It was really good fun and all the actors worked hard and took the training seriously.

"When I saw the film, I thought it was fantastic and I thought all the players looked brilliant. I only played a small role in it but I am very proud all the same."

While he may be able to look back on the film with pride, there has been little for Dorchester to smile about in the league this season.

The Blue Square South club have not won since an opening day victory over Braintree, managing just five draws and six defeats. 

However, Brooks believes a good FA Cup run is just what the club need to kick start their season. He is looking to emulate fellow Blue Square South side Havant & Waterlooville, who made it all the way to the Fourth Round Proper last season where they played Liverpool at Anfield.

Firstly though, Dorchester must get past Gosport Borough at the weekend.

"The league form is not amazing at the moment so The FA Cup is vitally important for us," added Brooks.

"I hope it can kick-start our league season. I know we are better than our league position suggests. The finance The Cup can bring in obviously helps as well.

"We feel that we are good enough to get to the First Round of The FA Cup.
Obviously we have to beat Gosport Borough first and if we do that and we get a favourable draw then I think we can go to the First Round and then who knows.

"If you look at Havant & Waterlooville last season and how well they did getting to the Fourth Round and going to Anfield to play Liverpool - that is the kind of thing we can all dream about."