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Rovers face Scouse trip
Story courtesy of Burton Mail
A daunting trip to Merseyside is Gresley Rovers’ reward for reaching for reaching the last 16 of the FA Vase for the first time in their history.
Gresley must travel to Knowlsley of the North West Counties League on February 9 with manager Frank Northwood insisting: “It’s a tough one – but we’re going up there to win.”Northwood has already spoken to the manager of Beazer Midland club Spalding, who were beaten 3-0 at Knowlsley in Saturday’s fourth round while Rovers were progressing with a 2-1 victory over Billingham Town.
“He told me he believes Knowlsley can be beaten,” said the Gresley boss today. “But he say’s they’re a very good side and if we go there looking for a draw we’ll get punished.
“I’ve no intention of doing that. We’re going up for a win and we believe we can do it.”
Formed as recently as 1984, the Mersyside club were promoted from the North West Counties League Division One as runner’s up to Gresley’s former Vase adversaries Warrington last season but beat Warrington on penalties to lift the league cup.
Former Paget striker Derek Christopher is a surprise inclusion in the Gresley squad for tomorrow night’s Banks’s League match against the Sutton Coldfield based outfit (7.30pm).
Christopher joined Gresley from Paget last season but scored only once after struggling to fit in.
He has remained on Banks’s League forms with Gresley this season but has played regularly in the Beazer Midland Division with Redditch.
Northwood said: “Derek rang me to say he’d finished with Redditch and to ask me if he could back to Gresley. He’s a quality player and we’re pleased to have him in the squad – but he knows it won’t be easy to get a shirt.”
