Note that this page is from our Gresley Rovers archive. It may not be related to the new Gresley Rovers (formerly Gresley FC until 2020).
Golden Days
Story courtesy of
These are heady days at the Moat Ground. Hard on the heels of their success in the FA Cup, Gresley Rovers tomorrow get the chance to reinforce their newly found reputation.
And as Rovers turn their attention to the FA Vase, it’s easy to forget that Frank Northwood’s men are also deeply involved in the Banks’s Brewery West Midlands League title chase.Realistically, Gresley know that their interest in the cup may not stretch beyond next week’s Fourth Qualifying Round clash with Leyton-Wingate in East London.
But the Vase is an entirely different proposition and – on the basis of their current form – there is good reason to believe Rovers could make substantial progress along the road to Wembley.
The West Midlands League has an impressive record in the Vase, twice providing the winners and also the beaten finalists on two other occasions.
Certainly, it would be a major surprise if Rovers failed to progress at the expense of tomorrow’s first round opponents at the Moat Ground, Lincolnshire League side Immingham Town.
Gresley have made considerable strides since they beat the Humbersiders in a replay two seasons ago, while there is nothing to suggest that Immingham have made any real advances.
Town are taking matters seriously by arranging for an overnight stop in Nottingham,
but it is very hard to believe that will have any marked effect on the outcome.
At this level, Gresley are going to be a very hard side to beat with their confidence sky-high after victories over Worksop own and Alfreton Town in the FA Cup.
Both those matches destroyed the false impression that Rovers are a good side going forward, but vulnerable at the back.
That might have been the case earlier in the season, but it is certainly not being supported by recent results.
In the last seven games a miserly Gresley defence has conceded just three goals.
That impressive record owes a great deal to the transformation in form of Steve Dolby since he was switched to the central defensive position he favours most.
Dolby has played with massive authority and in Mark Bromley has found an equally resolute defensive partner.