Eastbourne United boss Simon Rowland has urged his players to prolong their remarkable underdog campaign and the "greatest experience" of his career by capping it with a trip to Wembley in the Final of The FA Vase.
The East Sussex side are only 180 minutes away from a trip to the home of football, with their Semi-Final first leg clash against against Sholing set to take place this weekend.
At the start of the campaign Rowland had a depleted squad, reduced to the bare bones, and was forced to bring youth players into his first team.
Sholing v Eastbourne United
The FA Carlsberg Vase
Semi-Final first leg
3pm, Saturday 29 March
VT Group Sport Ground
Winners receive £6000
By Haydn Cobb
Despite their initial limitations, Eastbourne United have flourished and are challenging for the Sussex County Division Two title, as well as becoming only the third side in their county's history to reach the last four of The FA Vase.
"It has been a tough job to gain stability and we have been underdogs for nearly every game we've played this season," said Rowland.
"Yet we find ourselves top and in the Semi-Final of The FA Vase."
Rowland, who was only appointed manager at Eastbourne last May, proudly describes his side's achievements over the past few months as the "greatest experience" of his career.
He added: "It's been my greatest experience in football so far. I've won leagues and cups before, but this is something else.
The FA Vase Semi-Finals take place this weekend
"This experience is like buying a lottery ticket without ever thinking you are going to win. Everyone asks us about Wembley but we never try to think about it. For me, it won't feel like reality until after the match."
Eastbourne United plan to use the prize money generated from their Vase run to upgrade their club house and ground facilities - the club have already accumulated over £5,000 en-route to the last four.
"The club has a project to bring stability to the club," he revealed. "We want to be in the Isthmian League in a few years. The type of money The FA Vase brings in is huge for our club project."
Their opponents and hosts for the first leg, Sholing FC, are having an equally successful season as they fight for the Wessex Football League Premier Division with Alresford Town.
