WE'RE GOING TO WEMBLEY: Kent managers tell Heroic Fleet "Now go on and win it!"

MANAGERS throughout Kent are backing heroes Ebbsfleet United to go on and beat Torquay United in the FA Carlsberg Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, 10^th May 2008, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Fleet booked their place in a Wembley final for the very first time, having knocked out Blue Square Premier leaders Aldershot Town 4-2 on aggregate.

Last Saturday’s determined 3-1 victory at Stonebridge Road, courtesy of two Chris McPhee penalties before the break and Paul McCarthy - within a minute of Junior Mendes pulling a goal back - proved crucial for the Kent club.

Mendes scored again after 61 minutes of yesterday’s tense second leg in front of a passionate crowd of 4,344 at the Recreation Ground, to bring the aggregate score back to 3-2.

But when Michael Bostwick scored his fourth - and most important - goal of the season, just 69 seconds from the end of the game, this sparked off wild celebrations both on and off the pitch.

It’s been eight years since Kent’s last big day out at Wembley.

Kent League side Deal Town, managed by Tommy Sampson, defeated Chippenham Town thanks to a late Roly Graham goal.

And you have to go back to 1974 for a Kent representative in the FA Trophy final but on that occasion Dartford lost 2-1 to Morecambe.

Whitstable Town manager Marc Seager, 35, played in Deal Town’s 2000 FA Vase winning team.

And he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk last night: “What a great day for Kent football. To see a Kent club at Wembley is a massive achievement and testament to a lot of hard work.

“What Liam Daish has achieved in his short spell in management on the funds available is remarkable and will make him a wanted person by higher clubs.”

Seager, who predicted a draw in Hampshire, is pleased that one player that he had at Belmont Road on loan, has made it through to the showpiece final and Seager said late last week that he'll be joining the rest of us at Wembley watching him.

“I am so proud of John Akinde and what he has achieved so far this season. I’m sure he will finish the season as a Wembley winner,” said Seager.

“I’m also so pleased for my ex-father in law (goalkeeper coach) Ron Hillyard, who’s not only been a top pro but also a great man who I have personally got so much respect for and will also be so proud to see such a great man add a Wembley appearance to his CV.”

Steve Lovell, now the manager of Ashford Town, was also part of that Deal Town winning team and he believes the Fleet will beat Torquay United underneath the Wembley Arch.

The Welshman added: “Liam has done a great job and I hope they can go on and win it.”

But Kent football also has a couple of people that have actually won the FA Trophy, Alan Walker and Colin Luckett.

Walker, the joint-manager of Maidstone United, was Telford United’s captain back in 1983 when they defeated Northwich Victoria 2-1.

He told www.kentishfootball.co.uk today: “Delighted for Liam and the whole club and it’s great for Kent football.

“Having won the Trophy myself I know how much they’ll enjoy the day.

“I’m sure all of Kent football will be behind them.”

Victorious captain Walker tells the Fleet players to capture their moments of glory on the hallowed turf as “the day flies by!”

Full-back Luckett, currently part of the Cray Wanderers team that are 23 games unbeaten, helped Kingstonian to back-to-black wins at the old Wembley in 1999 and 2000.

Wins over Forest Green Rovers (1-0) and Kettering Town (3-2) has left an ever lasting memory on the former Bromley defender.

“It’s a brilliant occasion for whatever club’s there, the fans, your family, it’s a good couple of days,” Luckett told BBC Radio Kent.

“You stay in a hotel for a couple of days and visit Wembley the day before. It’s an absolutely brilliant opportunity if you get there.”

Luckett is often stopped and is asked “what is it like to play at Wembley?”

And Luckett, now 31, added: “A lot of people mention it and it’s a long time ago now. But you never forget those sort of occasions.

“My son’s watched the video a couple of times but yes I do. It brings back a couple of memories.

“From the time you actually get to the hotel and you go into the Wembley changing rooms and it’s just incredible.

“Walking out you just see the fans and your family there and it’s just an experience never to forget.”

Chatham Town have never been to a Wembley final but the club did reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup back in 1888-1889.

But current manager Steve Binks is also proud of Fleet’s achievements.

“Well done Liam and to everyone at Ebbsfleet,” Binks told www.kentishfootball.co.uk last night. “Wishing you all the very best in the final from everyone at Chatham Town.”

Andy Ford was in charge of Gravesend & Northfleet when he took the club into the top flight of non-league football six years ago.

Now manager of Blue Square South club Welling United, Ford is pleased for the people at the club who have been though thick and thin during the years.

“Absolutely fantastic, very, very pleased for them, especially the people behind the scenes down there that have been through thick and thin,” Ford told BBC Radio Kent.

“Roly Edwards, Brian (Kilcullen) and Jason (Botley) and all those lads who have been there when the times haven’t been very good and money’s always been very tight down there.

“For those people I’m absolutely delighted for them and hopefully that can give the club the backing and money they can make from that and push them on next season.”

Tommy Warrilow has just guided Tonbridge Angels into the top six in the Ryman Premier League table thanks to six straight wins despite flirting with relegation.

The former Horsham assistant manager pulled off a major shock in the first round when the Angels knocked out giants Oxford United in December.

A goal-less draw at the Kassam Stadium earned a replay and the Angels finished off the job with the now departed Hamid Barr, who drove a shot into the bottom left-hand corner.

And the former Gravesend & Northfleet defender is “absolutely delighted” for the Kent side.

“I spoke to Liam on Friday night and wished him all the best,” he told BBC Radio Kent.

“I don’t think it will really sink in for all the people connected with the club to what they’ve actually achieved.

“They went down there, had a great day out with a great win under their belts. To beat Aldershot as well that is no mean feat and I’m absolutely delighted for everyone connected down there.”

THE KENTISH FOOTBALL FAMILY ARE SO PROUD OF THE FLEET - WE’RE GOING TO WEMBLEY!