Manager John Farmer is a thoroughbred Nuneaton Griff man – first as a player, then as a manager.
And though The Buildbase FA Vase has not always been the happiest hunting ground for him, Farmer is hopeful that will change against Wolverhampton Casuals in Saturday’s second round tie.
Last year was Griff’s best performance in the FA Vase, former player Charlie Reardon leading them to a first-ever appearance in the last-16, where they lost out to Salisbury 3-0 in front of a record home crowd of 870 at the Pingles Stadium.
Despite a similarly successful league season in which they came third in Midland League Division One, Reardon and club stars Josh Ruff, Luke Shorthouse and Anton Astley all departed over the summer.
That’s where Farmer came in – a former player, successful in three seasons as manager at Griff before stepping down in 2012 for family reasons – to help rebuild the club he has known and loved for many a year.
The 46-year-old never made it past the first round of the FA Vase during his first stint in the dugout.
But with Griff side scoring 21 goals in their previous five fixtures, Farmer believes the chance to replicate last year’s success has come at just the right time.
“I used to play for the Griff and I would class it as ‘my club’ – this is a game we can win and everybody has been talking about it for the last couple of weeks,” said Farmer, who also runs his own courier business.
“Facing Wolverhampton and looking at their results, there isn’t a great deal between the two sides and there is that little bit of extra excitement because it is an FA Vase weekend.
“The club got through to the last-16 last year, if we could match that it would be superb. The longer we stay in, the more interest there is around the club and it helps to raise its profile.
“It has come at the right time for us. The Vase hasn’t been kind to me in the past but as long as we win – even if it’s just 1-0, 2-1 – that’s all that matters.”
FA Vase history
Wolverhampton Casuals had never gone further than the first round until this year, with Continental Star, Bilston Town and Chelmsley Town all dispatched to date.
Nuneaton Griff’s best FA Vase finish came last year, when they won six straight games to reach the last-16, having never previously gone beyond the second round.
Did you know?
Wolverhampton Casuals were founded in 1899 and achieved three consecutive third-place finishes in the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division in 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14.
After dominating the Coventry Alliance Football League in the 1990s, Griff moved straight into the Midland Football Combination Premier Division to considerable uproar.
They silenced their doubters by claiming two successive league crowns in 1999-2000 and 2000-01 under manager Mark Green.
One to watch
Farmer’s rebuilt squad contains a number of new faces, but it is an old one reborn who he believes can be crucial for Griff in their pursuit of FA Vase success.
“We have got a lad Matt Brennan, who was a bit-part player under the old manager and he has had more opportunity to play this year,” Farmer said.
“He has scored 12 goals this season and if we can keep Matty involved and he is one of these people who may only get one, but he will get one every week. He is consistent and that is great.”
The prize
A spot in the third round and £750 awaits the winner of Saturday’s clash at Brinsford Lane.
