Gosport Borough boss Alex Pike has the chance to make FA history this weekend - but he has decided NOT to lead the team out himself.
Pike could become the first manager to win both The Vase and The Trophy when his side face Cambridge United in the Final of the latter competition at Wembley on Sunday.
Cambridge United v Gosport Borough
The FA Carlsberg Trophy
The Final
3pm, Sunday 23 March
Wembley connected by EE
Winners receive £50,000
Runner-up receives £25,000
By Luke Edney
Pike, who won The Vase back in 1992 with Wimborne Town, will have a second shot at glory at Wembley when he takes the town of his birth to the home of English football for The Trophy Final.
However, the potential of making history with his personal record is something Pike isn’t so concerned about.
He told TheFA.com: "If that happens then fine but it’s nothing for me personally, hence the reason why I’m allowing my assistant Mick Catlin to lead them out.
"I’ve always said the same, when I was a young manager I had a massive great ego, but this is not about me this is about Gosport Borough and the players.
"I’ve done that [led the team out] once before and I’ve had that honour, it’s Mick’s turn now. Hopefully that should shift some of the emphasis away from me and onto the club."
Gosport saw their push for league survival halted at Conference South promotion contenders Sutton United on Tuesday night.
But despite the loss, Boro will still go into the Final in good form and Pike isn’t worried about this week's defeat.
"I did make five changes from Saturday, I’ve got to be wary of the weekend," he added.
"And I had to give other players a chance to see if they could knock on the door for a Wembley appearance.
Watch our preview of The FA Trophy Final 2014
"We can now look forward to the preparations for Sunday. We’re going away Thursday, we’ll have two good training sessions and we’ll have a talk about this game.
"Then we’ll have a look at the reports and the DVDs on Cambridge and take it from there.
"We can’t lose, we’re playing at Wembley, the home of English football if not World football, and we’re not going to lose because it will be a great day out for everybody."
Some of the Gosport players will undoubtedly be disappointed to miss out on the matchday squad for the Final.
But Pike isn’t worried by such an important team selection, explaining: "It’s never been difficult for me, I’m a manager and I created these problems because I’ve gone out and signed these good players.
"It’s not a problem, as a manager you’ve got to be thick-skinned and there will be no sentiment from me. I’ve got to pick a team that I think will be the best on the day to win The Trophy.
"And if players don’t like it, then unlucky."
