Iain's Vase Warne-ing

Not many non-league goalkeepers can boast of hitting the winning runs against Australia, but AFC Totton’s Iain Brunnschweiler is hoping that he can record another highlight in his varied sporting career.

Brunnschweiler, who kept goal for the Stags in their first leg defeat to Billingham, played six first-class matches in a Hampshire career spanning three years, but the 27-year-old was at the crease when the county sent Australia spinning to their first defeat of the 2001 Ashes Tour.

And now he wants a Wembley appearance to go with that milestone.

The Southampton-born goalkeeper is now assistant coach at the Rose Bowl, and will be flew out with Hampshire on their pre-season tour to Cape Town on Monday. But although this means he will miss the second leg of the Billingham clash, he will be back should The Stags reach their first ever FA Vase Final.

“It has been amazing to get this far,” Brunnschweiler said. “We’ve had a lot of tough games and certainly done it the hard way, but we’ve shown that we’ve got a great spirit down here and we’re confident that we can go all the way.”

Brunnschweiler began his football career at Southampton but, at the age of 16 and having just won selection for the England’s U17 cricket side, found himself facing a difficult decision.

“It was very hard,” he said. “I loved football from a very early age, but once I started playing for representative teams at various age-groups I decided to punt for cricket.”

It’s not something he has ever-regretted, and after an ultimately un-fulfilled playing career, he is now relishing the chance to coach some of the finest players in the county game, as well as getting the opportunity to work alongside one of the sport’s all-time greats – Hampshire captain Shane Warne.

“It’s great to be able to combine the two sports again,” Brunnschweiler said.

“I hadn’t kicked a ball for five years when a friend suggested I train with Brockenhurst (in the Wessex League Premier Division). I played one game for the reserves and then got called up to the first team.”

He made the short journey to Testwood Lane at the start of the 2005 season and has played a crucial role in Totton’s run to the last four of this year’s competition.

Brunnschweiler’s side are currently 2-1 down after Saturday's first leg but if he returns from South Africa to find the Stags have reached The Final will Warne be there to cheer on his county colleague?

Brunnschweiler laughed. “If we reach The Final at Wembley I’ll make sure he gets a ticket.”