There will be no chance of Blyth Spartans lurking among the shadows in The Emirates FA Cup after their improbable march into the third round last year, but manager Tom Wade believes lightning can strike twice.
Cup fever is due to descend on Spartans once again next Saturday as they gear up for what could be another rollercoaster ride – starting at Spennymoor Town in the first qualifying round.
Blyth Spartans v Spennymoor Town
Emirates FA Cup first round qualifying
Croft Park
3pm Saturday 12 September 2015
Winning sides receive £3,000
No one in Blyth needs reminding of what happened last year, as the Northern Premier League side secured their place in the first round proper before dispatching Altrincham and then League Two Hartlepool United in front of the cameras.
Perhaps even more remarkably they were two goals to the good in the third round against Birmingham, before the Championship outfit pulled it around and finally brought the curtain down on the most impressive of Cup runs.
Some of Spartans’ Cup heroes have now gone on to pastures new, including Jarrett Rivers – now with Blackpool in League One after netting the decisive goal against Hartlepool.
But back in Blyth, last year’s financial rewards are being put to good use, according to Wade, who is determined to make sure that the club grow organically.
“We lost four players over the summer but Dan Maguire has come back to us from Halifax – the interest is there now, the number of scouts we were, and still are, getting at home games is ridiculous,” said Wade.
“It does put our players in the shop window, but we know we can bring in lads to replace those who go.
“The money that has come from the Cup run is being used for longevity, rather than a short-term fix”
Tom Wade Blyth Spartans manager
“We were going through a transition period two and a half years ago when I became manager and though we knew we couldn’t pay the players who came through a fortune, we made a promise that we’d help them all play at a higher level and the Cup run has accelerated that.
“The money that has come from it we’re using for long-term longevity, rather than a short-term fix that might get us promoted but where we’ve got nothing left after two years.
“The way we are at the moment we should be self-sufficient, gates went up hugely after the cup.
“When I first started we were getting maybe 250 or 300 through the turnstiles, and we’re getting close to double now.”
First things first is the trip to Spennymoor – who preside a league below in the Northern Premier League’s Division One North – and Wade says they are capable of causing an upset of their own.
“Normally when we have a good cup run, the following season is a complete disaster!” added Wade. “But we’ve lost just three games in 36 since the FA Cup run and when you get footballers starting to believe, that’s what can happen.
“Spennymoor are a fantastic club, they’ve got some very accomplished players and they’ll get the lads ready for it – any occasion we meet, let alone the FA Cup, is a big one in the area.
“Someone in the north east will go on a cup run, it may be us, it may be Spennymoor, and we’ll give our full support to whoever it is.”
Indeed the Moors have a proud cup tradition of their own, having won the FA Vase two years ago and been seconds away from making the FA Cup first round last season.
In fact, manager Jason Ainsley has enjoyed cup success with both sides – and he believes it is time for Lady Luck to smile upon Spennymoor in the FA Cup.
“I think we got overlooked for our own cup run last year, we were 2-0 up in the last qualifying round against Telford when they equalised in the 97th minute and then went on to win the replay,” said Ainsley, who has been in charge at Spennymoor since 2006.
Blyth Spartans take on Spennymoor in the Emirates FA Cup First Round Qualifying
“But Blyth have always had a good tradition in the cup, I was playing for them 20 years ago when we met Blackpool in the FA Cup in the first round and lost 4-3. And with them doing so well last year and them being on TV, we probably couldn’t have asked for a much bigger game.
“I’ve been a bit unfortunate with injuries so far this year – I don’t know if I’ve walked under a ladder!
"Glen Taylor stubbed his toe while going to the toilet and then dislocated it, Michael Hoganson was rushed into hospital with appendicitis, Dan Frost kicked the bottom of someone’s foot which left him with a nasty gash and we’re not currently where we want to be.
“But the chairman’s asked me to achieve three promotions in five years, we’ve got the first one done and I see the sides above us and know we can get into there.”
