We need some luck on FA Vase trail, admits Ford - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

VCD Athletic boss Martin Ford is dreaming of becoming only the second manager of a Kent club to win the FA Vase, writes Stephen McCartney.

The longest serving manager in senior Kent football takes charge of the Crayford based outfit against West Auckland Town in a fourth round showdown, which will attract their highest crowd of the season at their revamped Oakwood home on 20^th January 2007.

Visitors West Auckland Town, currently in fourth place in the Arngrove Northern League top flight, make the long journey south as the green machine aim to emulate last season’s historic run when they were knocked out by Cammell Laird, who went on to lose in the semi-finals, in the last sixteen (fifth round).

Vickers, whose Kent League game at Tunbridge Wells yesterday was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Culverden Stadium, welcome rivals Erith & Belvedere to Oakwood in the second round of the London Senior Cup on Wednesday night (7:45pm).

Ford, who took charge of the club in 1993, started their FA Vase campaign this season in the second round, beating Tunbridge Wells by a flattering 3-0 scoreline, but came away from Wisbech Town last weekend with a fine 2-1 victory.

Ford has already spoken to Tommy Sampson, now coaching Ryman League Division One South newcomers Horsham YMCA, who lead Deal Town to FA Vase glory against Chippenham Town in the last FA Vase final played at Wembley Stadium in 2000.

Having won two games in the competition so far, Vickers have banked just £2,200 in prize money, but the club will bank a further £1,500 if they beat West Auckland next month.

“For a club like ours we look at it as another round to go and generates a little bit of money,” Ford said in an EXCLUSIVE interview with www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“It helps pay the wage bill and some bills,” he added.

“But the closer you get, last year at Cammell Laird, the last sixteen, a disallowed goal from Mark Greatorex with fifteen minutes to go, that goes in the back of the net we're 1-0 up, they go down the other end and score. That’s how close it is getting through to the FA Vase.

“I talk to Tommy Sampson a lot. He just said you need your luck on the day.

“If you can nick a goal here and avoid tough away games like we’ve done (then we could progress even further)."

Ford revealed that he will travel to see West Auckland Town's game at Darlington Railway Athletic on Friday, 5th January.