The Emirates FA Cup is 140 years older than Guernsey FC, but for manager Tony Vance football is finally coming home.
Vance worked with partners Steve Dewsnip and Mark Le Tissier – along with the Guernsey FA – to establish Guernsey FC in 2011 and ever since then staging a home FA Cup tie has been the dream.
It is their fourth year in the competition and when Thamesmead Town arrive to Footes Lane on Saturday, that ambition will finally be fulfilled and history made with the first ever Emirates FA Cup tie to be held on the Channel Islands.
Guernsey v Thamesmead Town
The Emirates FA Cup
Preliminary Round
1pm, Saturday 17 August 2016
Footes Lane, Saint Peter Port
Winning clubs receive £1925
By David Bates
Click here for fixtures
Vance admitted thoughts of Hastings United – who made it through six ties to set up a third round meeting with Middlesbrough in 2013 – had entered his mind, but was trying to keep a cooler on expectations of a cup run.
"When we first set up one of our aspirations was to play in The FA Cup and although it’s taken five years to get an opportunity, it has been worth waiting for," said Vance.
"There’s a lot of excitement on Guernsey and especially at the club itself.
"The cynics didn’t think we would last long and here we are, five years on and still going strong, had a couple of promotions as well, a league cup win – I think that is the greatest positive.
"Just like everybody we want to go as far as we possibly can, we have the ridiculous dreams that everyone has at our level.
"The most realistic inspiration is Hastings United who got through to the third round against Middlesbrough, that just shows it is possible, but we have to win a lot of games before that happens.
"I am a realist, I just want to try and get through this game and see where it takes us.
"But for us it is just so great to bring The FA Cup to Guernsey, it is such an iconic competition.
"We have under-achieved in The FA Cup so far, but it is difficult to go away from home and hopefully we can allow this home advantage to allow us to progress this year."
Emirates FA Cup history
Guernsey have only been in existence for five years and though Vance claims they have under-achieved in The FA Cup, they reached The FA Vase semi-final in the 2012-13 season. Having gained senior status for the first time in 1987, the 1995-96 season stands as the Thamesmead’s most successful in The FA Cup, making it through to the second round qualifying of the competition for the first time, while in the same year they made the last 16 of The FA Vase.
Did you know?
The Emirates FA Cup trophy itself will be present at Guernsey’s Footes Lane on Friday ahead of their historic tie with Thamesmead. Thamesmead’s current home ground Bayliss Avenue was officially opened in 1988 with a match against then FA Cup holders Wimbledon.
One to watch
Guernsey will be without their most potent weapon, striker Ross Allen, who has scored over 200 goals for the club. Instead, Guernsey boss Vance thinks goalkeeper Chris Tardif, who enjoyed stints with Portsmouth, Oxford United and AFC Bournemouth before returning to home to the Channel Islands, will be their key man.
"The name on everyone’s lips was Ross Allen, but he is unavailable at the moment," said Vance.
"So Chris Tardif is the one to watch. He has enjoyed playing in The FA Cup.
"We have a nice blend of youngsters coming through, but if I had to pick someone it would be him."
The Prize
The winner of Guernsey against Thamesmead will take home £1,925 and book a clash with Chertsey Town or AFC Hayes in the first round qualifying.
