Kentish Football 
FA CUP SPECIAL: We must embrace our chance to reach the first round, insists Dolby
Friday 27th October 2006
Cardiff born striker Andy Martin would love nothing more than to help Tonbridge Angels knock Newport County out of the FA Cup tomorrow, writes Stephen McCartney.The six-goal striker scored a brace when Tonbridge Angels got their FA Cup campaign off to a flying start, winning 3-1 at Kentish rivals Ashford Town in the first qualifying round, and now the west Kent club are just one win away from a lucrative first round tie.
But the Welshman is relishing playing against a team that are around 15 miles from his home town.
“To be honest it wouldn’t matter who weve drawn,” he said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk last night. “We’ve done well to get as far as we have but we don’t want it to finish Saturday.
“But on the other hand it’s nice to play against a team not far from my home town, probably know a few of the lads so it will be an added bit of spice for me.”
A team from Tonbridge last reached the first round proper way back in 1972 when Charlton Athletic scored five goals without reply at the old Angel ground.
But Martin insists this year’s side are good enough to get through.
“I didn’t realise it was that long to be fair,” he said. “I don’t really look at stats but I think it will just be nice for the club as a whole, but obviously for us as a squad with the manager and Mike Rutherford to do it and pull out a nice tie for the hard work we’ve put in.”
Tonbridge Angels are currently in second place in the Ryman Premier League table, following their promotion via the play-off’s at the end of last season.
Expecting to consolidate on their return, this current team are good enough to win promotion into the Nationwide Conference South and play the South Wales club in league action.
“It’s too early to say but we’ve got a good bunch of lads,” Martin said. “We’re doing well at the moment, we’re second in the league, still in both cups.
“The only thing that could go against us is we’ve got quite a small squad but fingers crossed that injuries and suspensions don’t kick in too bad and you never know. We’ll go as far as our capabilities will take us.”
A crowd of over 1,500 is expected to the Betterview Longmead Stadium tomorrow, and Martin, whose expected to partner Jon Main up front, issued a rallying cry to the people of west Kent.
“It would be nice to have a big crowd here,” he urges. “They’re always good to us the home support, very vocal and it would be nice to see a few extra faces here and make it a bit louder and intimidating for the away team.”
Former Gravesend & Northfleet goalkeeper Aaron Kerr, meanwhile, recalls the special feeling when sides reach the first round proper of the world’s greatest cup competition.
“Four games is a lot of games in one competition just to get into the first round,” he said. “To get to that first round and that anticipation waiting to see who you get is just electric, (especially) when you’ve gone through qualifying and gone to places that you don’t particularly want to go to.
Kerr, who tasted a fourth qualifying round exit whilst at Gravesend & Northfleet last season, recalls that special moment earlier in his career.
“When you know the TV cameras are going to be there and you know there’s going to be scouts there,” he recalled.
“I mean nobody wants to look at that as if we all want to get away, obviously we all want to play at the highest standard of football, but me personally I’m loving it being at Tonbridge at the minute and for the foreseeable future."I’m more than happy being here it’s just that buzz that other people are going to be watching.”
And the Irishman insists his side have a “great chance” of celebrating victory at 5pm tomorrow.
“I think we’ve got a chance against anybody we play,” he said. “Any club from Conference downwards, I think we’ve got a real chance because we don’t just hoof it, we play football.
“I think it’s the oldest cliché in the book, form means nothing in a cup game.
"It’s one day, one result. You can’t just come back next week and put it right because you’ve only got one chance at it so the big thing is it doesn’t manner whose doing what in their league’s, it’s all about on the day.”
Player-manager Tony Dolby, who guided the club through the play-off’s last season, beating bitter-rivals Dover Athletic 3-2 on home soil, is also relishing their second biggest game in just six months.
A crowd of over 1,800 watched that game, and the same kind of figure is expected tomorrow.
“Yes can’t wait!” he said. “Big occasion for the club, lots of exposure and the opportunity to get into the first round proper with the league clubs is beckoning for us so one big push and we’ve got every chance getting there.”
The Angels are currently riding on the crest of the wave. “I hope the fans and people associated with the club agree, I think the club’s come on leaps and bounds,” said Dolby.
“We’ve worked tremendously hard in every area within the club on and off the pitch and I’m hoping for the start of reaping the rewards for that and we can go onwards and upwards from here.”
Dolby, however, hopes all his players don the blue shirt and perform.
“I’m looking for the youngsters to embrace the situation, the day if you like, and I’m looking for the experienced players to just remain calm and still put on a good show because it will mean a lot to them as well.”
And Dolby wants his 12th man – the passionate Barmy Army to fill Longmead Stadium to the rafters and cheer on his side into the first round proper.
“The fans are going to be in good voice, they’re going to certainly embrace the day and be very vocal and make it a great atmosphere and hopefully we’ll be able to produce a decent game of football for them to talk about.”
His biggest game whilst at the club? Dolby replied: “Obviously the play-off final was a massive game at that time. Here we are, here and now and this is the biggest game today.
”If we can get through it, it will be a massive achievement for everybody associated with the club.
Dolby will receive a telephone call from SKY Sports if they get through to the first round (why didn’t they call after their win at The Homelands earlier in their FA Cup campaign?), and Dolby will relish the media spotlight – outside Kent.
”When you look at what could possibly happen, if you do get through, it becomes magnified 100 times,” he said.
“The exposure, the revenue that the club could create, certainly a club like ours, could keep us going for a long, long, time if we get the right draw, if we get through.”
What will Dolby tell his players five minutes before kick-off? He said: “I think by then the players will be well worked up and ready to go.
“We’ve put a lot of work in tactically, mentally and physically as well. We’re in good shape physically and mentally so I think we’ve got the right blend of players.
“I think the younger lads are going to embrace the situation and the more experienced lads are going to keep their feet on the ground as well so I think we’ve got the right blend in there.
“I’ll certainly be telling their worth a win here today and to believe in themselves.
“I said in an interview earlier in the week, I think for me personally every game is important as the next and the one it’s proceeded.
“I’m going into this full pelt 100% every week, every Tuesday, every Thursday and even more so on a Saturday.
“So whether it will be in the league, FA Trophy or FA Cup, I will be doing my utmost to get the desired result.”
PLEASE NOTE:
All three turnstiles will open at 1pm
There will be NO segregation
Up to FIVE Police officers and EIGHT security guards will be patrolling the crowd
Newport County are sending someone to video the game
BBC Wales will be covering the match
So are BBC Radio Kent, who will bring LIVE second half coverage from one of the five FA Cup ties
And this is the main game for www.kentishfootball.co.uk
Any replay will take place next Wednesday
The draw for the first round takes place at 5:30pm
ADMISSION PRICES:
It is ALL PAY on the day
£8 (adults)
£4 (senior citizens)
£2 (under 16s)
£2 (match day programme)
PLEASE ARRIVE AT THE BETTERVIEW LONGMEAD STADIUM AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE TO PREVENT DELAYS
Visit Tonbridge Angels' website: www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk
FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) Fourth Qualifying Round
Saturday 28th October 2006
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Betterview Longmead Stadium, Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent TN10 3JW
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd