Following Saturday’s FA Vase Quarter Final triumph, Tunbridge Wells boss Martin Larkin stands on the verge of history.

Larkin would become just the second Kent manager to lead a team to the FA Vase Final after Tommy Sampson so gloriously led Deal Town to Vase glory in 2000 if Tunbridge Wells make it to Wembley.

Speaking after the 2-0 win over Suffolk side, Larkin admitted that it really had been a special day at the Culvenden Stadium.  He said, “the Dunstan game was special but today in front of this crowd is even better.  It was such a big day for our group – we’ve been together now for a while and are very close.  Of the sixteen who were here seven were here on day one three and a half years ago – we are a very close unit and today has been very very special!”

On the day that over 1,000 answered the rallying call to come out and support the club, the manager paid them this trubute.  “The crowd were fantastic, they really were fantastic” Larkin said.  “The local paper kept telling us that people were interested and were talking about it, but to get that sort of size crowd is absolutely fantastic – they were brilliant and it really makes you want to be more involved in days like this.”

Turning his attention to his match winner – two goal Andy Irvine – the manager paid his centre forward this tribute.  “His Dad played for us in the mid 80s and was in the club’s league championship winning team of the time which was the last time that the club won anything significant.  Of course we’re delighted he came back to us from Herne Bay and that’s he’s back with us – he’s big and powerful – even though he probably only uses half of what he’s got power wise  – but what he’s got he does uses so well in the box and thats why we’re so glad he’s back with us.”

Given that the Wells only won through to the last eight seven days earlier, Larkin had had the Suffolk side watched,  He said, “Even though we only knew that we’d be playing Hadleigh a week ago we managed to have them watched twice and so we had an idea of who the danger players were and so we had an idea on how to deal with them.  Same time we had an idea where the gaps and the spaces would be, but that said I thought that we played very well.  But I appreciate what they’ve been through today.  We had a three hour trip to Bath last week but we went out of our way to go down Friday night and stay over so that we were fresh on Saturday morning. ”

Hadleigh got here today very early – I think they were here about 12:45 – and they did have their moments,” Larkin admitted, but added with an ever increasing smile, “fortunately they didn’t create what they needed to.  Plus the fact we were very good!  Bottom line is that we didn’t want to go into the game blind so we gambled a little bit because of the postponements we decided to have them watched midweek and on Saturday as well as I wanted to be as prepared as we could be.”

“Its an old cliche but we’d all prefer to be playing in the latter stages of knock out competitions that be playing mid table league football week in week out.  What this group has achieved so far is really amazing and tremendous, but at the same time we dont want to waste it either, so who knows with all the games we’re got left, we’ll may even put some extra training sessions in.”

Its going to be a ridulously busy time in the Larkin household – with Martin having to organise the Wells push for Wembley, whilst his wife is one of the team trying to retain the cricketing Ashes in the summer.  Martin explained, “My wife works for the ECB and is currently with the under 19s in Johannesburg – she’s back next week and is then off to Loughborough to continue the build up to the Ashes in the summer.  She travels a lot round the country, and with the travels that we’re looking at over the coming weeks it might well be that we almost have to “arrange an appointment” to see each other as we try to meet up somewhere in between…”

“We had a super trip down to Bath last week and the coach trip was something special, but I somehow get the feeling that if I ever get in there” pointing in the direction of the Culvenden’s bulging club house ” it could be quite a special night.  I’m just so very pleased for this group.  We’ve been in it together from the start – they’re a special bunch; a very tight knit bunch – and all that work results in nights like this.  We’ll enjoy it, but we know that when that semi final draw takes place we’ve got it all to do again.”

Tunbridge Wells learnt on Monday afternoon that they will face either Shildon or Ascot United in the semi-finals with the game to be played over two legs.

The first leg will be played at home on Saturday 23rd March with the return just a week later.

FA VASE SEMI-FINAL DRAW:

Guernsey FC or Walsall Wood v Spennymoor Town

Tunbridge Wells v Ascot United or Shildon

Pictures supplied by Jake Stanford