VASE IS ADDED FOIL FOR COYLE

WHITSTABLE Town player-manager Jamie Coyle says winning the Isuzu FA Vase would be the crowning glory of his 20-year career.

- By Chris Dunlavy

The Oystermen will face Hartpury University for a place at Wembley after coming back from 2-0 down to beat Whitchurch Alport 3-2 in last weekend's sold-out quarter-final at the Belmont.

And Coyle says even representing his country would pale into insignificance compared to winning a first-ever major trophy with Whitstable.

"I've been very fortunate as a player," says the 41-year-old, who started out as a youngster at Crystal Palace before playing for the likes of Maidstone, Welling and Dartford.

"I've been involved in promotions. I won the Senior World Cup with England twice. To pull on that shirt and sing the national anthem is something I will always be immensely proud of.

"But to take this club to Wembley and to win the Vase would be the biggest achievement of my career. No doubt about it."

For much of last Saturday's quarter-final, that looked like a pipe dream. Visitors Alport raced into a 2-0 lead in front of a record 2,656 crowd before Ronald Sithole's first-half strike reduced the arrears.