BROMSGROVE Sporting boss Paul Smith is calling on the whole town to pledge their support to his side this weekend as they take on Lichfield City in the FA Vase.
The second round clash was originally scheduled for Saturday but with ground-sharers Worcester City at home on the same day to AFC Telford United, the Vase game has been moved to Remembrance Sunday (3pm KO).
And with no games on television or in the local area on that Sunday, Smith is hopeful the town of Bromsgrove come out in force to cheer his side on against fellow Midland League Division One title rivals City.
He said: “It’s a huge game of football as arguably the best two sides in the league take each other on.
“We’re lucky it’s fallen on the Sunday and it’s a great opportunity to pull in a brilliant crowd.
“I am calling on the people of Bromsgrove to come out in force to help us progress like they did against Coventry United in the league last year where we had an attendance of 900 plus.
“The support we had that day was unbelievable and I want exactly the same kind of atmosphere this weekend.”
Sporting will be looking to make it a league and cup double over City after they beat them 1-0 at the end of October.
And with another mouth-watering clash on the cards, Smith is confident his side has what it takes to go on a good cup run.
“First and foremost progressing means prize money,” he said.
“We’ve done well so far and the FA Vase is a cup we believe we can go further in if we perform and get the luck of the draw.
“We will be looking to win on Sunday. City will be wanting to beat us but with a huge crowd supporting us they won’t particularly enjoy coming up to us.”
The Rouslers go into their Vase game on the back of Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Atherstone Town when goals from Chris Lloyd and Will Tibbetts ensured Smith’s side extended their unbeaten league start to 12 games and cement their position at the top of the table.
Smith was full of praise for the way in which his players fought back from 2-0 down but felt the Adders deserved plenty of credit for their dominant first-half display.
“I spoke with people after the game and a lot of them were saying we was very poor in the first half,” he added.
“But I found that a little bit disrespectful to Atherstone as they put on the best half against us – I was relieved to have come in at just 2-1 down.
“What really impressed me though was after half-time the players did exactly what I asked them to do an arguably put in the best second half performance of the season so far.
“Without shadow of a doubt it was one point gained and not two points dropped.
“What’s even more pleasing is we have picked up ten points from 12 against sides who I believe are in the promotion challenge – Atherstone, Hinckley, Lichfield and Nuneaton.”
Meanwhile, Smith is searching for a new goalkeeping coach after Richard Stone, due to work commitments, is no longer able to take up the role.
Anybody interested in the position should email [email protected].
