Hanworth Villa chase FA Cup progress in home replay

Monday 18 Aug 2014
Hanworth Villa have home advantage in their FA Cup replay match on Tuesday evening
Hanworth Villa assistant manager Damian Payne is hoping to make a fast start in The FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round replay against Long Buckby on Tuesday night - after a tractor delayed the side's arrival in the original tie. 

The west London club appeared to still be on the coach in an opening period which saw them fall a goal behind in rural Northamptonshire on Saturday, before a second-half comeback secured a 1-1 draw.  

Payne told TheFA.com that having scrambled to make kick-off at the weekend, there should be no such problems on the road for the replay.

Hanworth Villa v Long Buckby

The FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
7.45pm, Tuesday 19 August
Rectory Meadows, Hanworth Villa FC
Winners receive £1500

 


"We were held up in traffic on Saturday, some of the fans were arriving by tractor, so you can imagine the backlog," he revealed. 

"But we are optimistic of a high crowd at Rectory Meadows.

"Playing in front of 100-150 people would really kick-start our campaign and it would really help generate funds. We are pretty much a new team this season, and the lads on the coach heading home were in buoyant mood ahead of the replay."

Payne arrived at Hanworth from Uxbridge this summer, along with team manager Gary Jenkins and his son, club captain Jake, following two seasons with the Suburban League Premier Division side.  

"Gary [Jenkins] and I are very keen on youth development. Billy O'Malley, who plays Futsal for England at U19 level, was on our bench on Saturday, which was a good experience for him.

"The captain [Jake Jenkins] is only 24, and he is keen to get his coaching badges done. He's already shown himself as a future manager, and he clearly believes that the pro set-up at the club provides the perfect setting in which he can develop, and not just as a player."

“Fans are eager for success in The FA Cup.”

Damian Payne Hanworth Villa manager

 


The father-son relationship is not the only family connection burning brightly at Hanworth this season, as veteran goalkeeper Terry Buss continues his family's long-held affiliation with the club that now extends to a member of the Buss family playing in each of the team's last 27 years.

Hanworth currently sit eleventh in the Combined Counties Premier Division but an inauspicious start to the league campaign would be given a shot in the arm with FA Cup glory - and with it help the club secure its vision for the future. 

"In recent years, the club has lost out on young players in the area as they've looked elsewhere for better wages," added Payne.

"Fans are eager for success in The Cup, as it would provide the new management with much needed cash to invest in the youth academy and would help the club source local talent."

The Middlesex club most recently enjoyed success in The FA's premier cup competition in the 2011-12 season, defeating Slough Town in the Third Qualifying Round before going out to Southern League Premier side AFC Totton. 

By FA Staff