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- Andy Parker – Burton Mail

19th June 1993
Gresley Rovers’ Wembley 1991 team is being reformed to play a Derby County X1.

The game, at the Moat Ground on Thursday 5th August, will be the climax of a testimonial year staged for three long-serving Rovers players.

The trio – striker Paul Acklam, defender Martin Dick and midfielder Neil Lovell, who has since left Rovers to join Central Midlands Leaguers Sandiacre Town – are hoping Rams manager Arthur Cox will put together a strong Derby side for the match.

Lovell revealed today that the three Long-Eaton based players were hoping to reassemble the team that drew 4-4 with Guiseley at Wembley in the FA vase final of May 1991.

Eight of the team – keeper Bob Aston, defenders John Barry, Gil Land, and Scott Elliott, midfielder Richard Denby, strikers Kieron Smith and Acklam and substitute Craig Weston – are still with the club.

Of the remainder, sweeper Steve Astley was on the books of Beazer Midland side Bilston last season, midfielder Stuart Stokes played with Beazer Premier Club Worcester City, striker Carl Rathbone is now with Sutton Coldfield Town and winger Steve Adcock, second substitute at Wembley, is with Stapenhill.

Lovell said: “It’s been hard work organising the testimonial year because everyone has been so committed to the club’s success in getting promotion to the Beazer Premier. But it has been a success so far and we’re delighted to be staging the Derby game. We’re obviously hoping for a good turnout. We thought it would be a nice idea to try and get the Vase side back together for the game and we’re hoping as many of the players as possible will turn out again.”

Two players who definitely won’t be able to play are Barry and Smith, who are sidelined by long-term injuries.

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