Lee Bradbury and Alex Pike came face-to-face on neutral turf yesterday as Fratton Park hosted Havant & Waterlooville and Gosport Borough ahead of their FA Carlsberg Trophy Semi-Final.
The two managers were joined by Portsmouth boss Richie Barker and Pompey players Ricky Holmes and Wes Fogden who both played in The FA Trophy before making the grade in the Football League.
"I’ve never played at Wembley or managed there so it’s an opportunity I don’t want to let pass by," said Havant’s Lee Bradbury who was no stranger to Fratton Park having chalked up over 150 appearances for Pompey in his playing career.
The FA Carlsberg Trophy
Havant & Waterlooville v Gosport Borough
Semi-Final first leg
3pm, Saturday 15 February
Westleigh Park
"The opportunity to play at Wembley is so close, but so far away.
"It would be even more painful to get this close and not get there. That will be in the back of the players’ minds but if we carry on playing the way we have there’s no reason why we can’t go through," added Bradbury about his Hawks side that are currently unbeaten in 13 games across all competitions.
"We also know Gosport have beaten some good teams in this competition and only conceded one goal.
"They’re hard to play against and we’ll have to be at our best in both games to get to Wembley."
Gosport boss Pike who led Wimborne Town to FA Vase success at Wembley in 1992, says that Havant have been role models for clubs across Hampshire.
"It was only five years ago we were in the Wessex League so Havant have been the pathfinders for us.
"The two clubs have got great mutual respect for each other and they’ve shown what can be achieved with hard work.
"We’ve replicated that and now find ourselves at the same level and in the Semi-Final of a major competition."
Meanwhile, Bradbury can call upon players with some big-game experience for the two-legged tie.
"You only have to look at players like Scott Bevan, Pedro Monteiro and Dennis Oli who are in our squad.
"Dennis has been in The FA Trophy Final twice while Scott has been in The Final previously [with Kidderminster Harriers] and Pedro has been to Wembley in The FA Cup for West Brom against Portsmouth but didn’t get on.
"There’s a lot of experience there who can help the younger lads."
Regardless of the result, Pike believes that the all-Hampshire Semi-Final is a big boost for football in the local area: "It’s important because this will go down in local non-League history.
"Whoever gets to The Final – Gosport or Havant – people will say, ’Remember when they played each other in the Semi-Final?’
"It’s two clubs, 15 miles apart, fighting to go to Wembley. How often does that ever happen? Not often.
"We’re looking forward to it. It’s not often a game like this can upstage all the others in the area and it’s certainly caught everyone’s imagination."
Pompey’s Ricky Holmes added: "The FA Trophy is a great advertisement for non-League football.
"It's a great prize to make it to Wembley, no matter who you play against, so good luck to both of them."
