The Isuzu FA Vase

Simon Rowland calls on all of Sussex to get behind his side

Friday 04 Apr 2014
The fixture is tied at 2-2 after the first leg
Simon Rowland hopes Sussex can unite behind his Eastbourne United side ahead of their FA Vase Semi-Final second leg.

The first leg finished 2-2 at the Silverlake Arena and Rowland is counting on support from the county as they bid to book a trip to Wembley Stadium for the first time in their history.

Rowland said: "There has been a huge interest from the whole of Sussex and lots of other teams in the area are moving their fixtures around so they can come down for the second leg.

Eastbourne United v Sholing

FA Carlsberg Vase 

3pm, Saturday 5 April 

Semi-Final second leg 

The Oval, Eastbourne

"The support has been fantastic and there is a real buzz around the county that a team from Sussex could make it to Wembley."

The Eastbourne United manager is expecting a bumper crowd at the Oval ground after his side became only the third side from Sussex to reach the Semi-Final stage of the FA Vase.

Meanwhile, Sholing FC manager Dave Diaper has warned his players not to be nervous so close to a possible Wembley date.

Diaper said: "The problem is when you get so close to Wembley the players get nervous because they start to think they have come so close. But if they get knocked out Wembley seems so far away.

"Saturday is a one-off match and I hope it's a good spectacle for the neutral."

Sholing are still in the hunt for a non-League double as they also sit second in the Wessex Premier division.

Both sides have fully fit squads and Sholing welcome back 21-year-old winger Nick Watts - which Diaper described as "a huge bonus for the squad".

“The support has been fantastic and there is a real buzz around the county”

Simon Rowland Eastbourne United manager

Eastbourne also have an opportunity for multiple silverware this season. 

They are top of the Sussex county division two by three points and manager Rowland heralded this season as his best one to date.

"It has been a fantastic season and the Cup run is a real highlight," Rowland explained. 

"We hope we can finish it off on Saturday and make it to Wembley.

"If we don't make it to the players will probably be a bit emotional at the finale whistle. But this experience will give them belief they can make it to Wembley in their careers."

The winners will face either West Aukland Town or St Andrews, who's Semi-Final is also finely balanced after the pair drew 0-0 in their first meeting.

The final will be played at Wembley on 10 May.

By FA Staff