Kentish Football 
The FA Vase Final 2013: I don't want to be the only one to win at Wembley, says Tommy Sampson
Sampson was in charge of Deal Town when they won the competition thanks to THAT Roly Graham strike that defeated Chippenham Town 1-0 underneath the iconic Twin Towers thirteen years ago.
Proud Sampson has revealed that he will be watching Tunbridge Wells’ biggest game in their entire history from the Royal Box at the home of English football on Saturday when Martin Larkin’s side with big hearts lock horns with Northern League big-spenders Spennymoor Town.
“I was really humbled to receive the letter to be invited to sit in the Royal Box,” said Sampson.
“It was a wonderful gesture by The FA and I’m looking forward to watching Tunbridge Wells put on a good show.
“It’s indescribable. It’s no way you can put it into words. For me, the moment of Roly’s goal, 87 minutes, will stand with me for the rest of my life.
“Roly’s in Australia now and we email each other occasionally. He dines out on his goal, quite rightly, because it was the most sensational of strikes.
“I just hope Martin Larkin experiences something like that on Saturday!”
Sampson warned the Tunbridge Wells players that playing at Wembley Stadium will be something that they will never experience again.
He said: “The main thing, with players, it’s the nervous energy you have to worry about. When we got to Wembley the main talking point after the game was how tired people were so quickly because the nervous energy preparing for the game in the dressing room, then the national anthem is all very emotional and when you start kicking the ball about the players will feel tired.
“I hope the players will realise that and can get through that tiredness because that first 15 minutes is fraught with nerves.
“We played at the old Wembley, but the new Wembley is built on the exactly the same piece of land. Also it will be so distracting for the players. People that are used to playing at Kent League grounds but Wembley is not comparable.
“I don’t think you can prepare players for it. We had a tour the day before just to get a feel of the stadium. There’s going to be close on fifteen thousand there. It’s a huge stadium and that vast arena is breathtaking and the players have got to put that at the back of their mind somehow.
“All I can remember is sitting in the dug-out just beneath the Royal Box and I couldn’t even hear myself think, so shouting out instructions is going to be so difficult.
“The dug-out at the new Wembley is set probably 10-15 yards back from the touchline so Martin has got to use his technical area the best he can because getting information to the players out on the pitch is going to be very difficult problem for him to overcome.
“I used to get round it by speaking to the nearest player and passing the messages across because for the manager it’s just like the players, it’s breathtaking.
“My main memory was not hearing myself think, trying to shout instructions to people 50-60 yards away is absolutely chaotic.
“It’s a breathtaking stadium when you just walk into it empty, with fifteen thousand there it’s going to be humungous for the players.
“I just hope they rise to the occasion, don’t be afraid of it, embrace it!”
“It’s going to be a marvellous day,” said Sampson. “I’m looking forward to it so much. I just hope Martin comes out of it as a Wembley winner.
“I spent many sleepless nights before Wembley worrying we got beat 4-0 – but I had confidence in my team.
“I hope Martin has that experience after the game of being a winner. It’s a long walk to the Royal Box for players to receive their medals and I think it’s an even longer walk if they get beat!
“I’m sure Tunbridge Wells will put on a great display.
“I always wonder how I’d handle losing at Wembley. All I want for Martin is to have that winning feeling. The players have to perform, there’s no question. You can’t have an iffy day, you’ve got to perform.
“I’ve seen Tunbridge Wells play once this year and that was the semi-final first leg and I was impressed with them. I thought as a Kent League side they were very organised, very disciplined, very fit and they had that extra quality called bottle.”
Sampson has this message for one-day only supporters of Tunbridge Wells.
“As far as I know there’s ten thousand supporters from the Tunbridge Wells side, which is marvellous – where have all these people come from?
“When I was at Deal I think we sold something like 14,000 tickets and we played in front of 170 people every Saturday.
“I think Tunbridge Wells are reasonably supported on their patch. Where have all these people come from? Why don’t they watch on a regular basis? What a marvellous thing that would be. Tunbridge Wells are a grass roots football club run by volunteers and people who love the football club.”
Sampson tells the men in red to give it their all and don’t fall for Spennymoor Town’s big-spending tag – after all you can’t buy team spirit and togetherness, something that is clearly evident at Culverden Stadium.
“The big-spending thing is a smokescreen. I hope Tunbridge Wells don’t fall for the smokescreen. Don’t give Spennymoor too much respect. If there’s a tackle to be made, then make it. Don’t let them have the ball nicely, harry and hassle. I’ve never seen a pound note score a goal yet!
“My heart and everything I’ve got will be with Tunbridge Wells on Saturday. I probably won’t be able to take my eye off what Martin is doing because other managers interest me. I don’t know Martin very well but conversations we’ve had he sounds very level headed and that level headedness will be required so I hope he can deal with it and I’m sure he will be able to.
“I’m so pleased for him. I don’t want to be the only one to have won at Wembley. I want people to share it.
“What I say to Tunbridge Wells’ people is embrace the day, don’t be fearful of the day. The stadium won’t bite you. It will be different for everyone, people reporting on it like yourself, when you’re used to going to Faversham and Welling United, the new Wembley is a fantastic arena.
“I’ve been there for three or four Vase finals but not for a few years and I’m sure it will feel marvellous for the Tunbridge Wells people. I’m so please for the chairman Joe Croker and all the other people that have been involved in the club for so many years.
“I’m just looking forward to it. I’m going up on Friday night. I’m going to stay in a hotel. I’m doing it properly. My family have been invited to the pre-match mean and if Tunbridge Wells win, I will be the first one on my feet and that will take some doing I can tell you, especially with my condition at the moment.
“God bless Tunbridge Wells. That’s all I can say!”
Tickets cost £15 (adults) and £5 (under 16s) and are available from www.TheFA.com/tickets or by calling 0844 980 0656 and are also available on the day of the game from Wembley Stadium.
Visit Tunbridge Wells’ website: www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk
Spennymoor Town v Tunbridge Wells
The FA Carlsberg Vase Final
Saturday 4th May 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Wembley Stadium, Wembley, Middlesex HA9 OWS
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd