We always try to make Vase day a bit of an event as for a club like ours it is fantastic to be involved in the competition, says Stansfeld joint-manager Jamie Phipps

STANSFELD joint-manager Jamie Phipps says the club will be making it a big occasion when they entertain their league rivals Staplehurst Monarchs United in The FA Vase tomorrow.

Stansfeld sit proudly at the top of the Southern Counties East Football League First Division table with 27 points from 11 games, while Tooting Bec have also collected 27 points but have played a couple of more games.

Stansfeld have beaten Bagshot (3-1) and Worthing United (5-1) in The FA Vase this season, while fourth-from-bottom side Staplehurst Monarchs United have beaten Sporting Bengal United (3-2) and Hailsham Town (2-1), going into the First Round tie.

Stansfeld reached the Second Round last season but went down to a 3-0 home defeat to Flackwell Heath. It was the furthest the club has been in the competition.

“We always try to make Vase day a bit of an event as for a club like ours it is fantastic to be involved in the competition,” said Phipps.

“We usually get old club members and players attending so it is also good to catch up with people we haven’t seen for a while.

“We are expecting a very tough game. We played Staplehurst a few weeks back and although the scoreline (a 5-2 home league win on 28 August) looked comfortable it was closer than it suggests, so we will not take anything for granted and know we need to be at our best to get the result.

“We lost for the first time this season in the Kent Senior Trophy (2-1 at Greenways) on Monday night so we will be expecting a reaction from the players tomorrow.

“Neither Billy Hamlin nor I ever envisaged we would be sitting top-of-the-table, all be it at a very early stage, as we know we are competing with teams who have a substantial budget so we are delighted with how things are going.

“We have added a couple of additions bringing in Ryan Fowler and Harry Collins, who have both come from a higher level, so feel we must be doing something right.”

Dave Mehmet has left Combined Counties League Premier Division South side Beckenham Town for an advisory role at Stansfeld.

Phipps revealed: “We have also brought in ex-Millwall player Dave Mehmet, who also played for the club, in an advisory role to assist all four of our senior teams, which is another fantastic addition and step forward for the club. His experience around or good young players will only help them become better.”

Stansfeld  v  Staplehurst Monarchs United
The Buildbase FA Vase First Round
Saturday 21 October 2021
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Foxbury Avenue, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 6SD