Alan Hansen famously said in 1995 ‘you can’t win anything with kids’ – 22 years on, Richard Forsyth hopes to prove him wrong again with his AFC Wulfrunians side.
The former Birmingham and Stoke City midfielder has invested heavily in young players since taking the reins and believes that model is the secret to success.
The Staffordshire side reached the fourth round of the Buildbase FA Vase two seasons ago and they are on the march again ahead of a first round proper clash with side Leicester Nirvana this weekend.
Following his spell in the Football League, Forsyth, now 47, became a PE teacher and is currently director of football across two schools.
His promotion and trust in young players attracted the club to him and he believes it is delivering the goods.
He said: “I had been out of senior football for maybe five or six years when I was asked by the club if I wanted to come in because of my knowledge with the young players.
“Since I joined I’ve wanted to mix youth with the older players and at the moment I’ve been very, very pleased with the way it has gone.
“Playing young players is a gamble at times but we’ve been very successful. Most have come on leaps and bounds so it’s great to see.
“Becoming a director of football at two schools is a wonderful job and I have and trying to link that to AFC Wulfrunians with the lads that are 16-18 years old.
“Any of those showing progression I will bring them to AFC and play them at that senior level.”
Forsyth is no stranger to a Cup run following his spell at Kidderminster Harriers when the then-Conference side reached the fifth round of the FA Cup, only to be knocked out by Premier League side West Ham United in 1994.
And the 47-year-old does not need to educate his players of how fruitful a cup run in any competition can bring to a non-league club.
He added: “It’s why you get into football, to create nice memories that you can look back on. When I was part of the Kidderminster side in the FA Cup when we got to the fifth round, that’ll be remembered forever more.
“You want to put a marker down. For AFC Wulfrunians, we want to go all the way and for a club of this size it would be incredible to do that.
“I think a lot of the senior lads know what’s expected of them and for the younger players it’s a new experience which they should revel in. I think most have realised the importance of it.”
Buildbase FA Vase history
The Wulfs have enjoyed a brief but relatively successful Buildbase FA Vase history so far as they enter the main round for the seventh time in ten years.
The Castlecroft-based club reached the fourth round in the 2015-16 season but were knocked out by Nuneaton Griff, losing 3-2 at home.
Leicester Nirvana also produced their best run of the competition in 2015-16, going to the fourth round where they were defeated by Hereford 6-0.
Did you know?
AFC Wulfrunians were formed out of amateur side Old Wulfrunians who were initially founded by former alumni of the Wolverhampton Grammar School in 1922.
The prize
The winner of the first round proper clash at Castlecroft Stadium will receive £900.
