From hopeless to hopeful . . . a village's shot at cup glory

By mark jenkin mjenkin@c-dm.co.uk

TONIGHT'S Devon Intermediate Cup final will mark a fantastic turnaround in the fortunes of Woolsery Football Club.

Kevin Glover's young team take on Plymouth side Windsor Car Sales at the Devon Football Association headquarters in Newton Abbot.

However, their historic first appearance in a county cup final looked unlikely three years ago.

In 2007 the village side were relegated from the North Devon Senior Division after winning one game all season.

Manager Glover had taken over a side still reeling from the loss of their entire first-team squad.

Gaining just five points was a harsh introduction to men's football for a team of 16 and 17-year-olds thrown in at the deep end.

"It was absolutely hopeless," said Glover. "We were way out of our depth.

"I took it on my shoulders and just said we had to accept it and get on with it."

Now, after a three-year rebuilding job, the club's outstanding youth policy is starting to reap the benefits.

Woolsery are chasing promotion back to the Senior Division and the players are starting to mature.

A run to the Intermediate Cup final has captured the imagination of the village. Places on the 70-seater coach for the trip to Newton Abbot were soon snapped up and plenty of supporters will be travelling to the game by car.

"We have not enjoyed times like this for several years," said Glover who remembers going to the first meeting when the club formed more than 20 years ago.

"We have rebuilt and hopefully we're getting there now.

"Whether we go on and win it is neither here or nor there — we have got to the final.

"It'll be nice if we can play a team that's on our level. You just don't know what you're going to be faced with.

"We have just got to try and match them on the night and I'm sure we'll give a good account of ourselves."

Opponents Windsor Car Sales are currently second in Division Three of the Plymouth and West Devon Combination League having won 10 and lost three of their 14 games.

Woolsery winger Mischa Howe faces a late fitness test after suffering a knee injury against Torrington at the weekend.

A knee problem has also ruled out Hamish Cameron who will be replaced in central midfield by Paul Mills.

The message from Glover to his team ahead of tonight's big match is simple: "If Clovelly can do it, so can we."

Woolsery would love to match the achievement of their local rivals who won the trophy in the 1980s.