In the first of our special series of interviews, we talk today to JOSH STANFORD – one of the heroes of the Vase run and who’s Man of the Match last gasp heroics in the last 16 tie away to Larkhall Athletic kept the dream alive…
A dream that the young winger from Wateringbury still cant quite believe. Josh told us, “To be honest it still hasn’t sunk in whatsoever. This time last year I wasn’t even playing football – I wasn’t playing with a men’s club. To then just months later be on the Road to Wembley and actually going to be a part of a Cup Final, it’s not really surprising that it hasn’t sunk in yet – it really is unbelievable!”
“I have actually been there a couple of times – the last time was for the London 2012 Final last summer. Now that was a good occasion, but I somehow think that it won’t be able to touch May 4th.”
When asked what sort of manager Martin Larkin was to play for, Josh admitted, “when you consider that Martin hasn’t had a budget to work with, what we’ve achieved is almost unbelievable – we’ve had nothing really given to us; we’ve had to work and train twice a week to get to where we are and yes it is a dream!”
“It still feels like a bit of a blur for me if I’m honest, especially when you remember where I’ve come from in the last year. I only wanted to get back playing football at some sort of good level and now I’m two weeks from hopefully playing at Wembley – my god it really is a dream come true!”
“I cant speak highly enough of the lads in the changing room as well as the management staff – we all get on so well!”
“It’s like a family really – every single game we’re all so relaxed around each other and have a laugh and enjoy what we’re doing. It’s the best atmosphere to be around especially at the moment – having the Final ahead of us obviously helps – but the camaraderie that we have amongst the boys has been a factor – it has to be – and that’s more evident than anything in our Vase games!”
Whilst there have been many highs over the past few months, Josh was in no doubt about the low point!
He said, “If anyone saw me when I was substituted at Shildon, the dream was over, it really was.”
“I pretty much nearly had a breakdown as I thought that that was it and we’d blown it.”
“I remember sinking down on the bench and thinking that the dream was over, but obviously I should have had more faith in my team mates!”
“We’d gone three nil down on the day and I have to be honest I thought that I’d let a lot of people down – and that was my lowest point of the run and I don’t want to go back there.”
“Luckily for me and for everyone else it only lasted for ten minutes and then we came back up after Andy and Perry scored and the rest hopefully will be history!”
Join us tomorrow for the next in our series of “Road to Wembley” as we speak to every member of the Tunbridge Wells squad. Next up is Scott Whibley…
Picture supplied by Jake Stanford