Chasetown have Dubai carrot
Chasetown's players are set for a mouthwatering trip to Dubai if they complete Mission Impossible and reach the FA Cup fourth round.
Chasetown's players are set for a mouthwatering trip to Dubai if they complete Mission Impossible and reach the FA Cup fourth round.
Club sponsors Virgin Holidays have promised the players and staff flights to wherever they want in the world if they topple Cardiff today.
And manager Charlie Blakemore says he would like to treat his heroes to some well-deserved sunshine if they pull off the unthinkable.
"It's unbelievable and a lovely gesture from Virgin, but this is a huge task, the likes of which has never been done before," he said.
"If we did it, it would be great to take all the boys to Magaluf, but then I heard Virgin don't fly within Europe, only worldwide, so let's go for Dubai!"
Chasetown, meanwhile, have been entered for two records in the Guinness Book of Records.
The Scholars have applied to the legendary milestone-makers because they are the lowest ranked team in FA Cup history to reach the third round, and today's tie represents the biggest gulf between two teams in the competition's history – six divisions and 161 places seperate the sides.
Chairman John Donnelly has urged Chasetown's fans to roar them to victory as they bid for a slice of history.
Chasetown's bunch of kitchen fitters, block pavers, graphic designers, customs officers, accountants and teachers will have to produce a Herculean effort to topple the Championship side packed with international experience.
But Donnelly insists the 1,600-strong Scholars contingent can have a massive effect on events.
"The difference they can make is the result – they can make the result happen," said Donnelly.
"The players can do all they can on the pitch, but the fans can make the difference between winning and losing.
"The players will give every ounce of effort but Cardiff won't be used to playing at a ground like ours with the crowd on top of them really getting behind us.
"That was shown when Luke Rodgers missed two penalties in the last round."
Chasetown player-coach Andy Turner has sampled life at the top as the youngest Premier League scorer with Tottenham.
Turner, now a schoolteacher, was also at Spurs when they reached the FA Cup semi-finals in 1993 and lost to Arsenal at Wembley.
The former top flight winger has also experienced joy and disappointment at the top and bottom of the scales.
"I remember playing Marlow when I was at Tottenham and we beat them 5-0 or 5-1 at home," he said.
"I played at Maine Road, Manchester City's old ground when I was just 18 in the fifth round and we won 4-2.
"I scored but it was disallowed, then I won a penalty and Teddy Sheringham missed it, Nayim scored a hat-trick, there was a pitch invasion and 40,000-odd people there. Fantastic.
"I think that was the year we lost to Arsenal in the semi-final at Wembley, to a Tony Adams header. I was 18 and loved being involved."
"Then when I was at Portsmouth, we beat Leeds 3-2 at Elland Road in the fifth round, but then we got beat 4-0 by Chelsea with Zola, Vialli and Desailly at Fratton Park!"
Turner added: "The only time I really came a cropper in the FA Cup was when I was at Tamworth.
"We lost to Guiseley after drawing 3-3 at their place. We were top of the Southern League premier division and they were Unibond One. We were expected to win and they came to our place and beat us 2-1 after having two shots at goal."
Turner has seen life at both ends of the football spectrum and insists Cardiff won't fancy coming to Chasetown.
"Any professional is going to wonder what it's like here before they have never been here," he said. "But the pressure is on them.
"To put it into perspective, some of the kids playing for us play for money which wouldn't even fill up a tank of petrol – £35, £40 or £50."
Turner says Chasetown have tried to bridge the six-division, 161-place gap by preparing as professionally as possible this week.
After beating Stourport 2-1 on New Year's Day, the players have trained every day – including a stint at Wolves' £3m training ground yesterday – before an overnight stay at Patshull Park hotel.
"We've looked after the players and we've trained most nights of the week" he said.
"I've watched Cardiff live three times, we've had DVDs of other games and we've had reports from other people.
"Believe you me, they're professional footballers being paid a lot of money and they should step up to the plate and deliver.
"But this is our platform to say we've earned the right to be up against them – this is our 10th game in the FA Cup. Cardiff could play six to win it.
"It's nicer because we've bettered what we did before. We didn't expect to win the last one, but we had a good go at it. So we're going to do the same again and bash the door down."
