AFC head to Hatters to lift FA Vase

AFC Dunstable's management team with John Still

AFC Dunstable chairman Simon Bullard and first team manager Steve Heath were invited to the Luton Town training ground by the Football Association to get close to the FA Vase trophy last week.

Heath and Hatters boss John Still had both been on Leyton Orient’s books at the start of their football careers.

The Luton boss, who is a great supporter of non-League football, recalled his experience of playing in the three FA Amateur Cup Finals at Wembley Stadium.

He lost two finals with Dagenham then won the last ever final with Bishop’s Stortford in 1974.

Still said: “There was massive crowds at Wembley - 45-50,000.

“But I remember going up to play a semi-final against Ashington at Sunderland’s Roker Park.

“It was packed and the noise was unreal.

“The whole area gets behind a club and that’s what will happen if you get a good cup run”

Heath agreed with those sentiments as he continued: “When I was manager of Leverstock Green, we reached the last 16 of the FA Vase and started to draw decent crowds.

“Saying that though, nothing like the crowds John enjoyed.”

Heath will be looking forward to the next round of the FA Vase as after defeating  CB Hounslow United on Saturday, he will face his old club Leverstock Green in the next round on October 4 at Creasey Park.

Chairman Bullard added: “Once again John Still was a complete gentleman and welcomed us with open arms.

“For a person who is in a pressure cooker environment managing a Football League club, he goes out of his way to make you feel welcome.

“On behalf of AFC Dunstable our club would like to thank John for a great time.”