Dave Carter swapped Horndean for Moneyfields just two months ago in pursuit of a fresh challenge – now he is 90 minutes away from making history with his new club.
Moneyfields have reached the FA Vase third round on four occasions since the turn of the century but never in their history took part in the fourth.
That could be about to change, however, as Carter – who only took the reins at the Moneys in October – leads them into battle with Brimscombe & Thrupp.
Moneyfields v Brimscombe & Thrupp
FA Vase third round
Moneyfields Sports Centre
3pm Saturday 12 December
Winning sides receive £1,300 from The FA prize fund
The manager had been in charge at fellow Wessex League Premier Division outfit Horndean for seven years but the Moneys came calling and he has not looked back.
“It was hard to leave Horndean,” admitted Carter. “But you have got to look long-term, rather than short-term.
“I took them as far as I could take them and this is another go at something. They offered me a budget at Moneyfields, too.
“Things have gone well – lots of changes to make, which we are making. Discipline is one of them – people turning up for training and making sure the sessions are being run properly.
“We had no training kit and if you don’t look the part, you won’t play the part. It is just about brining a bit of stability to the place.
“We have not done too much homework on Brimscombe. It is quite a bit of travel to get there and we have been pretty busy with games since the draw was made.
“But Moneyfields have never reached the fourth round before, so to come in and make history in my first couple of months at the club would be fantastic.”
In Hellenic Football League Premier Division outfit Brimscombe, they host a side that at one point this season had looked unbeatable.
A run of 16 games without defeat in all competitions ended in emphatic style last month with a 7-2 thumping at the hands of Brackley Town Saints.
“It is probably the biggest game the club has ever had in terms of prestige”
Sam Prior Brimscombe & Thrupp manager
However, nine unanswered goals in their last two games are a sign things are back on track for the Lilywhites and manager Sam Prior is hoping to see his side peak for the Vase.
“For the club this is a really big game,” he said. “It is probably the biggest game the club has ever had in terms of prestige.
“We are taking a big coach down with all the players and supporters, travelling together.”
The end of that unbeaten run coincided with star striker Ollie Pitt suffering a broken leg in late October but Prior has sprung into action and brought Sam Blackie back to the club – and he responded with a hat-trick against Woodley United last weekend.
“Sam has only just rejoined us,” added the manager. “He left in the summer to try his hand at Southern League level and for whatever reason, it didn’t work out for him.
“Once we lost Ollie we lost a bit of attacking impetus so having Sam back involved has given us more threat going forward and hopefully we will see that at the weekend.”
