Branch faces double test
Captain John Branch faced one of the biggest days of his life today – even before Chasetown's historic FA Cup tie against Port Vale.
Captain John Branch faced one of the biggest days of his life today – even before Chasetown's historic FA Cup tie against Port Vale.
The 23-year-old wing-back, who is set to lead out the Scholars tonight, is in his first year as a science teacher at Fair Oak Business College in Rugeley and underwent an assessment today crucial to his chosen career.
In contrast to the professionals' uncluttered world which allowed Port Vale's players to concentrate purely on tonight's second round replay, Lichfield-based Branch had to plan for three lessons today.
"As a first year teacher, I'm in a probationary year and I underwent an "observation" where my teacher skills are assessed and they look at how you're doing," said Branch, who teaches 11-16-year-olds.
"I arranged it two weeks agho not thinking we'd have a game. Hopefully it went OK because the fellow doing it – Colin Rich is alright, and he's a Stoke fan!
"It took place today between 12.15pm-1.15pm when I taught a class of year 10 students (14-15-year-olds) about the effects of smoking."
So while Vale's players could focus totally on the game, Branch was sweating on a crucial assessment even before he steps out for the biggest test of his footballing life.
"It's really hard to get time off because of the holidays we have," he said.
"Usually we have five lessons a day – I only had three because the Year 11 students are on exam leave – but my two free periods are both in the morning and my three lessons are after that, so I was looking to get away when school finished at 3.10pm so I could get my 'football head' on."
Branch couldn't even spend last night thinking of more Cup glory, adding: "We weren't allowed to pick our tickets up until about 10pm and then I had lessons to plan and year eight tests to mark!"
Branch wasn't the only Chasetown player struggling to get time off before the squad assembled at Bar Sports in Cannock for a debrief today.
Goalkeeper Lee Evans, who teaches PE to primary school children through his business Sports Active, was also working.
The luxury of a day preparing for the biggest match in his life is something Branch could only dream of.
"I'd rather be having the day off because it helps you focus, but as I haven't you just have to deal with it," he said.
"I try to be as relaxed as possible. I prepared some food so at least my eating was OK and as soon as school's over, I'll slip into football mode.
"It's harder to switch off at school too because the kids are always reminding me of it, wishing me luck, which is nice.
"But I remember last season it being the other way around – I had situations where I was preparing to take a corner and all I could think about was lessons I needed to plan for."
