Westella & Willerby usually pay no mind to the odds but as they break new ground in the Buildbase FA Vase this weekend, they will be required to pull off a giantkilling feat of titanic proportions.
The Hull-based side have made it to the first round proper for the first time in their history but looking to swiftly crush the party atmosphere at Haworth Park on Saturday will be none other than Whitley Bay and nobody has lifted the Vase more times than the Seahorses.
Westella could have avoided relegation from Division One of the Northern Counties East League last season but turned down a reprieve offered to them as a result of movement in higher divisions, instead opting to drop down to the Humber Premier League to rebuild.
Now they can look forward to pitting themselves against Whitley Bay, with 32-year-old manager Leon Sewell refusing to baulk at his team’s ‘David against Goliath’ meeting with the four-time Vase champions.
“It’s exciting for everybody associated with the club, really,” said the Westella boss, who celebrates five years in the job on Saturday.
“I’m not too bothered about Whitley Bay, if I’m perfectly honest. It’s David and Goliath, it’s York City playing Manchester City.
“We’re the underdogs and we’ve got everything to gain and nothing to lose, which is a bit of a cliché but it’s true.
“It’s brought quite a bit of enthusiasm to the club and a bit more energy on and off the pitch.”
Whitley Bay, of the Northern League Division One, won the Vase three years on the trot between 2009 and 2011 – defeating Glossop North End, Wroxham and Coalville Town – and they were also victorious in 2002 after overcoming Tiptree United.
This season Westella, who currently groundshare with Hall Road Rangers, bested Arnold Town on penalties before thrashing Ollerton Town 4-0 to set up this weekend’s unprecedented tie.
Sewell added: “Westella, in terms of its infrastructure; it’s a very big club.
“It’s got one of the largest academy and junior sections in Hull and East Riding but ultimately, the first team are the only senior representative side, so it will be a good day for the junior and the academy sections to come and get involved and see what’s on offer in however many years’ time.
“I’m not really scared of anything, to be fair. Once you become scared, you start losing focus and concentration, and you’re already beat.
“We’ve already beaten two teams from higher leagues, so what’s to say we can’t make it a hat-trick?”
Buildbase FA Vase history
Westella first entered the Vase in the 2012-13 season and previously hadn’t progressed further than second round qualifying. In contrast, Whitley Bay have a storied history in the competition.
Did you know?
Having previously been known as Westella Hanson and Westella VIP, the club reverted to their original moniker – Westella & Willerby – ahead of the 2016-17 season.
The prize
The winners of Saturday’s tie will progress to the second round proper, bagging £825 in prize money.
