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- Rex Page – Burton Mail

29th November 1988
Gresley believe their FA Vase third round blockbuster against Tamworth on December 17th could attract their biggest Moat Ground attendance in modern times.

Rival bosses Frank Northwood and Graham Smith, the man who guided Tamworth to the Banks’s League title and top spot in the Beazer Homes Midland Division in successive seasons, agreed last night that the luck of the draw has given them the tie of the round.

Tamworth have the best following in the Beazer Homes League and huge numbers of travelling fans are expected to swell the crowd well beyond the 1,400-plus audience which saw The Lambs clinch the Banks’s League title at the end of last season.

Said Smith: “It’s got to be one of the games of the round. I’ll be very surprised if there’s a bigger attendance anywhere in the Vase on the day.”

Northwood, meanwhile, immediately seized the chance to harness the resources of Gresley fans in the hope that they will roar Rovers into the fourth round.

“It’s time we showed Tamworth that we can match their supporters for numbers and noise. When we’ve played them in the past their fans have always turned out in greater numbers and they’ve always outshouted us.

“I would like to think that this time the boot will be on the other foot because it would be a big lift for my boys.”

Both managers believe it will be a closely-run affair.

Said Northwood: “Tamworth will find us a different proposition this season, but it could go either way. It will probably be decided in favour of the teams that gets the rub of the green on the day.”

And Smith commented: “We’ve always had our fair share of luck at Gresley, but you can be sure that they will make it very hard for us.”

It will be a special day for defender Mark Bromley, midfielder Jon Laws and striker Martin Devaney, all of whom have transferred their loyalties to The Lamb this season.

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