Tuesday, 7th October 2008

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- Martin Farrer – Burton Mail

26th February 1993
Unusual training techniques mean Gresley Rovers can expect a highly combative Dunston Federal Brewery team to come between them and place in the FA Vase semi-finals tomorrow.

For Feds boss Peter Quigley has had his players breaking off from normal workouts for a spot of martial arts.

And after listening to the players complaining about his regular training – the “Quigley routine” – the manager also brought in an aerobics instructor.

“We just thought it was a good idea to relieve the boredom of training. A friend of mine is a tae kwan do instructor and he offered to come along and take the lads for a session. What we’ve found is that the martial arts and the aerobics helps with reflexes and suppleness. The players have got these great big strong legs but once they’ve done a bit of aerobics especially, they’re nackered.”

However, once the whistle goes, the Geordies will concentrate on playing football. By all accounts they believe in playing the ball along the ground and will be a marked contrast to some of Gresley’s opponents in earlier rounds, such as the up-and-at-em style of Burnham.

They are also prolific scorers. Fed have bagged 136 goals in competitive matches this season and won their last two matches 5-1 and 5-2.

Quigley, though, knows his men can expect a tough game after receiving glowing reports on Gresley in the last few weeks from his spies. When you get to this stage of any competition, you expect hard games. At the end of the day though, we’ll come down and give it our best shot. Lots of accidents can happen in cup games.”

With Fed top of the Northern League Second Division, promotion remains their priority this season.

“I’d love to lead the team out at Wembley in the Vase final. But I want to attend the league’s annual dinner knowing that I manage a First Division club.”

As they switch their minds to the FA Vase quarterfinal clash, they will be without key midfield man Tony Halliday. The left-sided player has been suspended after picking up five bookings.

But their ranks will still include former Nottingham Forest player Steve Kendal, who has returned to his Geordie roots after his professional playing days ended with a Fourth Division winner medal with Torquay United.

His midfield partner is Nigel Walker, who played for Newcastle, Sunderland and Hartlepool before being lured back to Dunston, his home village team along with England star Paul Gascoigne.

Top scorer is Dave Willis, who left Newcastle after serving an apprenticeship because of a bad knee injury.

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