Vase Countdown Begins For Town
Mon 17th January 2011 | Runcorn Town | By Ian Templeman
A busy week awaits the officials at Runcorn Town as the countdown begins towards the biggest game in their history to date.
The FA Vase Fourth Round tie at home to Dunston UTS of the Northern League is the latest game in Town's Vase adventure, and another milestone in a season that has exceeded everyone's expectations.
A place in the last 32 of the Vase coupled with a league campaign that sees them among the promotion chasing pack in Division One, represents remarkable progress for a club that only made the step up from the West Cheshire League last summer. Town Chairman Tony Riley says everyone at the club is delighted at the progress that has been made.
"It's been tremendous. When we came into the league, we all felt 'we've got in and let's just maintain our position', but rather than just do that we are flying, both in the league and cup competitions. We had two targets, consolidating in the middle of the league and to play one game in the Vase, and now we've come all this way it's a dream come true. The life it's brought into the club has been absolutely fantastic, and it's beyond our wildest dreams.
"The initial decision to aim for the North West Counties League was made about five or six years ago, and there were were plenty of people at that stage who felt it was something that was never ever going to happen. We had so much against us, one of the main things being generating the money we needed to install floodlights, which was a big issue. But one way or another we did it and got into the league.
"During those years it was hard at times to keep the interest going, and at times enthusiasm seemed to level off a bit. Then as soon as we got in the league it gave everyone a lift, and suddenly we had people coming along offering to do jobs around the club, which is great, and there's a great atmosphere around the club at the moment."
The club made a conscious decision at the start of the season to try to build a good local support, and Tony says they have been pleased at the response they have had.
"We decided to pitch the admission fee very low at just £2 for adults in the hope that over the course of the season we would generate some good crowds, and indeed over the season it has started building. We are now regularly averaging about 80 or 90 a game and as well as hoping that will continue, all being well for the Vase game we will do better than that.
"That has been a real boost for us, because one of the concerns we had coming into the league was that, having spent so much on getting here, we were worried on the finance side how we would manage to get through the season. But rather than just breaking even and paying our way, the success we've had so far means that revenue is on the increase and going in the right direction.
"That's important because what we are looking at doing now is building a new 50 seater stand, which will mean that should be lucky enough to finish in one of the promotion positions, we have got the facilities to step up into the Premier Division, which is obviously our next objective.
"Beyond that, within the next 2-3 years we are hoping to own the ground outright. There is a piece of land adjacent to the ground that we are hoping to develop and we already have outline plans drawn up. It will comprise our own social club and car park and our own entrance from the main road, which will make us a totally self contained unit.
"After that, we will look to develop the ground further, and erect more covered accommodation. The plans are there, we just need to generate the income."
After the team's great start to life in the Vodkat League, Tony is confident the team will maintain the form they have shown so far.
"On the playing side, everyone has done really well. Simon Burton is only in his second season as manager, but he's going from strength to strength, and is ably helped by Danny Salt who has a great knowledge of the local scene as well as having played at a higher level.
"We are very happy to be in the position we are in, but I'm probably getting to the point where I want to be a little bit greedy now. Rather than aim for our original target which was to consolidate and finish maybe mid table, I want to be up there now. Top of the table might be a bit of a tall order but I think finish in second place is achievable for us now."
But for this week at least, focus will turn from the league to the Vase, and Tony says everyone is looking forward to a busy week of preparations.
"The Vase game is huge for us. The manager Simon Burton will be appearing on local radio during the week, we'll be organising fliers around the town, and club officials will be getting out and about to try and drum up interest.
"The Pavilions club next door is the centre for about eight or nine local teams who go in there after their games to have a drink and chat, and I believe we will quite a few local football clubs coming down to watch us in the Vase. I know there were representatives from three or four local teams down watching us against Leek CSOB last Saturday.
"I spoke to the boys on the coach coming back from the Gornal Athletic game in the last round. I thanked them and told them that I was proud of them, and that the game was the biggest game in the club's history, but the same will apply for the game against Dunston."
Meanwhile, manager Simon Burton will spend the week plotting the downfall of Dunston UTS, after starting the New Year with two important league wins on top of the Vase triumph in the last round against Gornal.
Simon, assistant Danny Salt and the playing squad, have taken to life in the Vodkat League with impressive ease and as Simon explained, the good form they have shown has been achieved with a squad comprised largely of players who were playing in the West Cheshire League last season.
"Without wanting to sound over confident, at the start we felt we had a squad that could be up there challenging, although we were also aware that it was our first season at a higher level and didn't want to be pushing ourselves too much. I felt we had enough quality in the side to trouble teams, and for us still to be in the mix towards the end of the season would be a decent performance.
"I'm not sure if we expected to do just as well as we have done, but we have a good set of lads, morale is good and we are really pleased at how we've done so far.
"If someone becomes available who would be good enough to come into the team we'd be interested, but we have a squad of about 20 at the moment and I'm not actively looking to add more players because I'm pretty happy with the squad and strength in depth I've got.
"We can chop and change without weakening our side, for example we played Warrington Town in the Cheshire Cup and drew with them after making nine changes and they are an Evo-Strik League side.
"Right now we are fourth in the league and maybe there isn't too much focus on us because we aren't in a promotion place, but I think if we can keep building on the performances we have put in recently we will be well placed at the end of the season."
Although his side made an excellent start to their league campaign, Simon believes one of the turning points was when they went across to play Parkgate in mid-September in their first ever Vase game, and came away with a fine 4-2 win.
"The game against Parkgate gave us a real boost. I don't think anyone really gave us a chance, maybe even some of the committee didn't think we would go there and win. They are from a league that's a step above us and were top of their league at the time, and we knew it was going to be difficult. But the one thing we do have is great belief in the dressing room, and on the day the lads felt they could go out and get a result.
"The pitch suited us, it was big and flat and suited our style of play as we like to get the ball down and play. The lads put in a great performance, their work rate was excellent and the attitude was spot on and on the day we played some good football. Coming away from there it was a two hour coach trip home and the banter on the way back was great, and I think that as much as anything was the man thing we took from the game.
"When I played, team spirit was massive for me, and I think it's very important and while obviously the result was the main thing, I think the team spirit that developed on that day and on the way back has helped us to progress the way we have done this season.
It (the Parkgate game) came on the back of us losing our first game of the season, which was against Holker when we lost 3-2 after missing some gilt edged chances. So the result at Parkgate really picked us up, and we've kicked on from there."
Looking ahead to the Vase game, Town only found out who their opponents were going to be at 5 o'clock last Saturday when news came through that Dunston UTS had beaten Heather St Johns in the long delayed Third Round tie. Without having had the chance to see his opponents first hand, Simon will now spend the week gathering what information he can about Town's Northern League opponents.
"I had Heather St Johns looked at last Tuesday evening, although as it's turned out Dunston have turned them over, so that's thrown a spanner in the works. Dunston don't have a game this midweek otherwise I'd have tried to get up there and have a look at them. But I'll give Heather St Johns a call during the week to see what I can pick up.
"From I can gather Dunston are a footballing side, they are not a physical side and like to try and get the ball down and play. It should be a good game because we try and do the same, and we've certainly got players who cause problems with pace and on the counter attack.
"We've been doing well in the league and if we can take that confidence into the game against Dunston, we've got a chance."
Vase Countdown Begins For Town
Mon 17th January 2011 | Runcorn Town
By Ian Templeman
A busy week awaits the officials at Runcorn Town as the countdown begins towards the biggest game in their history to date.
The FA Vase Fourth Round tie at home to Dunston UTS of the Northern League is the latest game in Town's Vase adventure, and another milestone in a season that has exceeded everyone's expectations.
A place in the last 32 of the Vase coupled with a league campaign that sees them among the promotion chasing pack in Division One, represents remarkable progress for a club that only made the step up from the West Cheshire League last summer. Town Chairman Tony Riley says everyone at the club is delighted at the progress that has been made.
"It's been tremendous. When we came into the league, we all felt 'we've got in and let's just maintain our position', but rather than just do that we are flying, both in the league and cup competitions. We had two targets, consolidating in the middle of the league and to play one game in the Vase, and now we've come all this way it's a dream come true. The life it's brought into the club has been absolutely fantastic, and it's beyond our wildest dreams.
"The initial decision to aim for the North West Counties League was made about five or six years ago, and there were were plenty of people at that stage who felt it was something that was never ever going to happen. We had so much against us, one of the main things being generating the money we needed to install floodlights, which was a big issue. But one way or another we did it and got into the league.
"During those years it was hard at times to keep the interest going, and at times enthusiasm seemed to level off a bit. Then as soon as we got in the league it gave everyone a lift, and suddenly we had people coming along offering to do jobs around the club, which is great, and there's a great atmosphere around the club at the moment."
The club made a conscious decision at the start of the season to try to build a good local support, and Tony says they have been pleased at the response they have had.
"We decided to pitch the admission fee very low at just £2 for adults in the hope that over the course of the season we would generate some good crowds, and indeed over the season it has started building. We are now regularly averaging about 80 or 90 a game and as well as hoping that will continue, all being well for the Vase game we will do better than that.
"That has been a real boost for us, because one of the concerns we had coming into the league was that, having spent so much on getting here, we were worried on the finance side how we would manage to get through the season. But rather than just breaking even and paying our way, the success we've had so far means that revenue is on the increase and going in the right direction.
"That's important because what we are looking at doing now is building a new 50 seater stand, which will mean that should be lucky enough to finish in one of the promotion positions, we have got the facilities to step up into the Premier Division, which is obviously our next objective.
"Beyond that, within the next 2-3 years we are hoping to own the ground outright. There is a piece of land adjacent to the ground that we are hoping to develop and we already have outline plans drawn up. It will comprise our own social club and car park and our own entrance from the main road, which will make us a totally self contained unit.
"After that, we will look to develop the ground further, and erect more covered accommodation. The plans are there, we just need to generate the income."
After the team's great start to life in the Vodkat League, Tony is confident the team will maintain the form they have shown so far.
"On the playing side, everyone has done really well. Simon Burton is only in his second season as manager, but he's going from strength to strength, and is ably helped by Danny Salt who has a great knowledge of the local scene as well as having played at a higher level.
"We are very happy to be in the position we are in, but I'm probably getting to the point where I want to be a little bit greedy now. Rather than aim for our original target which was to consolidate and finish maybe mid table, I want to be up there now. Top of the table might be a bit of a tall order but I think finish in second place is achievable for us now."
But for this week at least, focus will turn from the league to the Vase, and Tony says everyone is looking forward to a busy week of preparations.
"The Vase game is huge for us. The manager Simon Burton will be appearing on local radio during the week, we'll be organising fliers around the town, and club officials will be getting out and about to try and drum up interest.
"The Pavilions club next door is the centre for about eight or nine local teams who go in there after their games to have a drink and chat, and I believe we will quite a few local football clubs coming down to watch us in the Vase. I know there were representatives from three or four local teams down watching us against Leek CSOB last Saturday.
"I spoke to the boys on the coach coming back from the Gornal Athletic game in the last round. I thanked them and told them that I was proud of them, and that the game was the biggest game in the club's history, but the same will apply for the game against Dunston."
Meanwhile, manager Simon Burton will spend the week plotting the downfall of Dunston UTS, after starting the New Year with two important league wins on top of the Vase triumph in the last round against Gornal.
Simon, assistant Danny Salt and the playing squad, have taken to life in the Vodkat League with impressive ease and as Simon explained, the good form they have shown has been achieved with a squad comprised largely of players who were playing in the West Cheshire League last season.
"Without wanting to sound over confident, at the start we felt we had a squad that could be up there challenging, although we were also aware that it was our first season at a higher level and didn't want to be pushing ourselves too much. I felt we had enough quality in the side to trouble teams, and for us still to be in the mix towards the end of the season would be a decent performance.
"I'm not sure if we expected to do just as well as we have done, but we have a good set of lads, morale is good and we are really pleased at how we've done so far.
"If someone becomes available who would be good enough to come into the team we'd be interested, but we have a squad of about 20 at the moment and I'm not actively looking to add more players because I'm pretty happy with the squad and strength in depth I've got.
"We can chop and change without weakening our side, for example we played Warrington Town in the Cheshire Cup and drew with them after making nine changes and they are an Evo-Strik League side.
"Right now we are fourth in the league and maybe there isn't too much focus on us because we aren't in a promotion place, but I think if we can keep building on the performances we have put in recently we will be well placed at the end of the season."
Although his side made an excellent start to their league campaign, Simon believes one of the turning points was when they went across to play Parkgate in mid-September in their first ever Vase game, and came away with a fine 4-2 win.
"The game against Parkgate gave us a real boost. I don't think anyone really gave us a chance, maybe even some of the committee didn't think we would go there and win. They are from a league that's a step above us and were top of their league at the time, and we knew it was going to be difficult. But the one thing we do have is great belief in the dressing room, and on the day the lads felt they could go out and get a result.
"The pitch suited us, it was big and flat and suited our style of play as we like to get the ball down and play. The lads put in a great performance, their work rate was excellent and the attitude was spot on and on the day we played some good football. Coming away from there it was a two hour coach trip home and the banter on the way back was great, and I think that as much as anything was the man thing we took from the game.
"When I played, team spirit was massive for me, and I think it's very important and while obviously the result was the main thing, I think the team spirit that developed on that day and on the way back has helped us to progress the way we have done this season.
It (the Parkgate game) came on the back of us losing our first game of the season, which was against Holker when we lost 3-2 after missing some gilt edged chances. So the result at Parkgate really picked us up, and we've kicked on from there."
Looking ahead to the Vase game, Town only found out who their opponents were going to be at 5 o'clock last Saturday when news came through that Dunston UTS had beaten Heather St Johns in the long delayed Third Round tie. Without having had the chance to see his opponents first hand, Simon will now spend the week gathering what information he can about Town's Northern League opponents.
"I had Heather St Johns looked at last Tuesday evening, although as it's turned out Dunston have turned them over, so that's thrown a spanner in the works. Dunston don't have a game this midweek otherwise I'd have tried to get up there and have a look at them. But I'll give Heather St Johns a call during the week to see what I can pick up.
"From I can gather Dunston are a footballing side, they are not a physical side and like to try and get the ball down and play. It should be a good game because we try and do the same, and we've certainly got players who cause problems with pace and on the counter attack.
"We've been doing well in the league and if we can take that confidence into the game against Dunston, we've got a chance."
