THE FA VASE
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CARLSBERG
FIFTH ROUND PROPER
SATURDAY 8 FEBRUARY

£1,000 in prize money to winning clubs

Winchester City is a club with high hopes.

New faces on the board and major investment in the club over the past year has enabled The City to start to realise its ambition to progress out of the Hampshire League and beyond.

New floodlights and a new stand are some of the ground improvements to have been made, allowing the club to enter The FA Vase, in partnership with Carlsberg, for the first time.

At the start of the season, the club's main goals were to win the Hampshire League and the Southampton Senior Cup - and to get through the first few rounds of The FA Vase.

An impressive 7-0 win over Brockenhurst saw them into the Fourth Round Proper and a 1-0 win over former semi-finalists Newcastle Town has earned them a place in the final 16.

Secretary Ray Murphy said: "We are somewhat stunned to get this far. We planned a gradual build-up this season and things have taken off quicker than we thought.

"It's blended together a lot better than anyone could have imagined. We are fortunate to have the people we have got running the club and a side, most of whom have played at a higher level, that has worked well together."

The club, founded in 1884, boasts a few great players from the past.

Terry Paine, who went on to help Southampton win promotion to the top-flight for the first time in 1965/66, and Ted Drake who, after a playing career with Southampton and Arsenal in the 1930s, went on to manage Reading and Chelsea, leading them to a First Division Championship in 1955.

The current squad includes Danny Smith, released by AFC Bournemouth in the summer, and Andy Forbes and Matthew Bicknell, both with Andover last season.

Forward Ian Mancey, who scored the winner over Newcastle Town, recently signed from Fleet Town and has netted 16 goals in a dozen games.

Following the departure of John Robson at the start of the year, the former Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Neil Hards has taken over as manager with Mark Blake, ex-Fulham and Southampton player, as one of his assistants.

With only one defeat so far this season, losing to Bashley in the Hampshire Senior Cup, Winchester City are at the top of the Hampshire League Premier Division and on course for promotion.

Burgess Hill Town stands in the way of Winchester City progressing any further in The FA Vase.

The West Sussex side, top of the Matthew Clark Sussex County League Division One, reached last season's Sixth Round Proper to be knocked out by eventual losing finalists Tiptree United.

David Malone, director of football at Winchester City, said: "Their record speaks for itself. They are at the top of their league, as we are, but it's one rung above us in the pyramid.

"We are very much the underdogs, but if we can overcome Burgess Hill and perhaps get a slightly kinder draw then anything could happen. We are optimistic, but not overly confident."

Full 5th Round Fixtures;

Brigg Town v Diss Town
Whitley Bay v Oadby Town
Gorleston v Bridlington Town
Lowestoft Town v Maldon Town
St Blazey v AFC Sudbury
Mossley v Prescot Cables
Burgess Hill Town v Winchester City
Clitheroe v Devizes Town

The draw for the Sixth Round Proper will be made on Monday, February 10, at 11am.