Lee Groves, Alan Chapman, Ryan Draper, Ellis Laight, Ian Down, Darren Hawkins, Leon Hapgood and Tom Kelly were all part of the Taunton Town side that lifted the prestigious FA Vase in 2001, beating Berkhamsted Town 2-1 at Villa Park.

Now, those eight players are just three games away from the chance of winning the Vase again – but this time with Bideford FC.

Manager Sean Joyce has guided The Robins to tomorrow's quarter-finals, where they will be at home to Gosport Borough.

He is hoping that the experience of those eight players winning The FA Vase will help the Western Premier side fulfil the dream of reaching the Final for the first time.

Bideford have never reached the quarter-finals before. Last season, they got to the last 32, whilst Gosport Borough, from the Wessex League, were knocked out at the First Round Proper.

The two sides came up against each other in the Third Round Qualifying of The FA Cup last season, with Bideford winning 3-1 at home.

Captain Darren Hawkings, who is in his second season with Bideford, said: "I was vice-captain at Taunton Town and have tremendous memories of winning The FA Vase. It was fabulous.

"Bideford is where I live, so to get to the Final again as a local player and as captain would be a tremendous achievement. I don’t think there can be many players to have got to the Final twice – and there’s eight of us!"

Although the 28-year-old centre-half believes their combined experience of winning The FA Vase will help, he knows it is no guarantee of success.

Darren, who works as a supervisor, said: "Last year we got to the last 32 and perhaps we just weren’t quite good enough. We have made a couple of additions to the team this year with Ellis Laight and Ryan Draper who have made a big difference to our side. We are a lot stronger as a team.

"The quarter-final is always the tricky one. We just want to get into the semi-final because then it’s over two legs."

Ryan Draper, who is enjoying his second spell with Bideford, said: "I remember the Final was a fantastic weekend. We watched Aston Villa against Coventry on the Saturday and then played in the Final the next day.

"We got absolutely battered for the first twenty minutes. A streaker came on the pitch and slowed the game right down and we got back in it. I was fortunate to pull off a few good saves and got 'Man of the Match' from our supporters club.

"It was one of my best games and to have it in an FA Vase Final and on a national stage – well, you can’t get much better than that."

Having won The FA Vase in his first season with Taunton Town, 29-year-old Ryan now hopes he can relive the magic in his first season back with Bideford.

The recruitment manager said: "When you get to this stage, you really start believing that you can go and win it again. All the sides left in the competition are good sides and you need a bit of luck on the day but, fingers crossed, we can do it."

Manager Sean Joyce said: "The eight players know what it’s all about and you can’t buy that kind of experience really. A lot of the lads are ex-team-mates of mine, but at 2 o’clock on Saturday you have to cross the fence and manage them.

"There is always a lot of banter flying around in the dressing room, with the eight lads who’ve already won it taking the mickey out of the others who haven’t and vice versa."

Having built up his side over the last three years, enjoying success in the league and decent runs in The FA Vase and The FA Cup, Sean is desperate to prove himself and the side in the biggest competition of all.

He said: "We have proved ourselves in the league and the next thing to better that is to win The FA Vase. It’s The FA Cup at our level. This is the most important game of our season."

Victory tomorrow would book Bideford a place in the semi-finals and the chance of running out at Birmingham City FC in the Final on Sunday 16 May, kick-off 3pm.

Thirty-seven-year-old Sean added: "I played at Birmingham City when I was at Torquay United about 10 years ago. I might dust my boots off and go on as a sub if we get to the Final – that would shut the eight up!"