When Brigg Town manager Andy Foster leads his two-time FA Vase winners out against former club Westella VIP on Saturday he will be hoping an old friend goes easy on him.
The Northern Counties East League Premier Division side are “riding the crest of a slump”, manager Foster says, having lost all seven matches so far this season following relegation last term.
Brigg Town v Westella VIP
FA Vase First Round Qualifying
The Hawthorns, Brigg
3pm Saturday 5 September 2015
Winning sides receive £600
But a change in competition could well bring a change in fortune and in the opposite dugout to Foster will be one of his former players Leon Sewell, who guided Westella to promotion last term to the Northern Counties East League Division One.
Failure for the Zebras, who lifted the Vase in 1996 and 2003, against a side who have never previously won a first qualifying round tie is not an option and Foster knows he must deliver.
“This competition is very close to the club’s heart,” said Foster.
“And we know that on Saturday there will be a certain amount of expectation on us, especially with the tie being at home. It should attract a decent crowd.
“The fact that it’s an FA competition, should take the pressure off the league and it’s a chance for the players to put themselves in the window.
“We do have a new group of players for this season and they are still getting to know each other. I think we will be okay this season, we just need one win to kick-start our season and hopefully that will come on Saturday.
“I’m proud to see Westella playing in the Northern Counties League. That was always an ambition of mine to see the team go up and it’s great that we are now playing against each other, so it will be extra special for me.”
Westella boss Sewell speaks glowingly of his time player under Foster, however, is unlikely to be in charitable mood on Saturday.
Entering this competition for only the third time, the trip to their local rivals marks a significant step in the 95-year history of this club.
And Sewell would love nothing more than to help his charges advance and really put them on the map.
“There is some excitement around this,” he said.
“We have entered the Vase before and got knocked out after extra time two seasons ago. We were still in the Central Midland League then, but now we have been promoted it’s good for us to be in the draw and test ourselves against a team in the league above.
“Anything can happen on the day and I’d like to think we have got enough quality in the squad to get through.
“Andy Foster used to manage Westella, so a couple of my players played under him. I did too, so there is a bit of friendly rivalry there.
“We’ve got a good relationship, we get on well. We were supposed to play in pre-season, but that was cancelled because of the FA Vase draw. So this is our belated pre-season friendly, it just happens to mean a bit more!”
