Chasetown captain misses out
Chasetown's record-breaking FA Cup run is tinged with sadness for one man tomorrow – but it could just prove to be the team's inspiration.
Chasetown's record-breaking FA Cup run is tinged with sadness for one man tomorrow – but it could just prove to be the team's inspiration.
For captain Lee Parsons, tomorrow's second round tie at Port Vale is a game he can only look on with regret as he misses out on the big occasion through suspension.
The 22-year-old midfielder, who was only given the armband this season when Craig Harris left, misses the match through a one-match ban after accumulating five bookings.
The Scholars are never short of motivation, and typical of the team you can never write off, they have turned it into a positive.
Instead of feeling down on their luck at the absence of their skipper, the players have rallied to the cause and reckon the best way to deal with it is to win – so he can lead them out in the next round.
Chasetown were hoping to 'absorb' the ban by playing their Walsall Senior Cup quarter-final against Heath Hayes on Thursday night.
As keeper Lee Evans admits, the Football Association refused to allow that to count and so Parsons misses out.
But they are determined to not let that affect them.
"The FA deemed the Walsall Senior Cup a reserve team competition because it's an invitational cup," said Evans.
"I've been speaking to Lee and he's absolutely gutted. But having played in every round leading up to this game, it must be really hard for him to take.
"What we've said is we want to do this for Lee – win the game so he can play in another round of the Cup, because he deserves to be out there as much as we all do."
Parsons joined the squad for a look-see at Vale Park last week when many of the team watched Vale lose at home to Doncaster.
Five leagues seperate the two teams tomorrow, while financially, the gulf is even wider as Vale's star players pick up £2,000 a week compared to the £100 a week Chasetown's top players earn to supplement their earnings as teachers, plumbers and mechanics.
Being at the ground and seeing Vale at first hand though has helped dispel any suggestion that Chasetown will go to the Potteries with an inferiority complex.
"We were given the chance to go there last week and most of us took the opportunity," said Evans.
"We didn't go in our club tracksuits, just our normal clothes, and we sat at the back of the stand.
"I have to say, we were looking around and saying to each other afterwards, 'we can beat this lot'."
Evans is convinced one of the biggest upsets of all time could be on the cards.
"I did say to the lads, 'it's great to get to the first round of the FA Cup, but how good would it be to do a giantkilling?'" he said.
"I know there are five levels difference between the teams, but they are struggling at the bottom of their league and we're at the top of ours so why not?
"We go there high expectations and a great deal of pride."
Around 3,000 fans are expected to roar on the Scholars tomorrow and be the 12th man boss Charlie Blakemore craves at the big games.
Working locally, Evans is only too aware of the impact the team's Cup run has had and how their progress has transformed the area.
Through Evans and his company Sports Active, he and Scholars team-mate Danny Smith travel to schools all over the region responsible for children's physical education.
"We work on local primary schools with the kids," said Evans.
"There has been a massive response from the children when we tell them we play for Chasetown."
But while the kids have plenty of fun in his work, Evans takes his responsibility very seriously.
"The teachers have to spend 10 per cent of the normal timetable away from the children on preparation, planning, and assessment and while they do that, we work with the children," he said.
"That's where we come in. Sports Active is a company myself and my business partner James Lees have created to fill a gap in provision of physical education in primary schools.
"We provide what we view as engaging and fulfilling PE sessions while at the same time creating an ethos of life-long participation and health-concious children.
"We're certain we have the sporting stars of tomorrow in our midst and children who will eclipse any achievements already made by the members of Sports Active, and we're committed to seeking out and making schools aware of this young talent."
But he is keen to stress his work isn't limited to football, with the company providing a wide base of interests to cater for the most sports-mad youngsters.
"There is a common misunderstanding that we only provide football-based largely on my personal interest and ties with Chasetown," he said.
"But we actually deliver national curriculum PE in a number of schools covering all outdoor aspects – football, tag rugby, orienteering, hockey, basketball, netball, cricket, rounders and athletics.
"We also provide the service of after-school clubs, so the children can take part in a more informal and fun-based learning experience of a vast range of activities."
Evans's influence also extends into the classroom and he and striker Smith are held up as role models to help children improve their reading.
"We've been approached by schools to help with the national literacy strategy and in particular the 'Reading Champions 'programme," he said.
"That's an initiative set up to provide positive male role models to young boys capable of reading, but needing a little extra persuasion to take up reading independently and for enjoyment.
"Early signs suggest we're having a positive effect on standards."
Evans and Smith were at Gorsemoor primary school in Heath Hayes this week delivering a lesson.
"Gorsemoor Primary are currently looking into setting up a 'Writing Champions' programme with the same aims in mind," he said.
"Through our classroom work we hope to dispel the stereotypes held by many that those involved in sport can't also be academic and that through application and effort the two may go hand in hand."
