Paul Marshall and Tadcaster Albion represent one of the NCEL’s best hopes of ending the 13 year run without a FA Vase finalist
Paul Marshall reckons his current Tadcaster Albion squad are capable of going the distance in the FA Vase.
The Toolstation NCEL Premier Division leaders Tadcaster host Northern League outfit Morpeth Town in the second round tie at i2i Stadium tomorrow and Marshall’s men are three wins away from breaking their own record in the Vase.
However, Marshall wants to go further than the fifth round. He is aiming to go all the way to Wembley.
He told Non League Yorkshire: “My ambition is to win the Vase.
“Northern League teams win it generally, but I feel we have a squad capable of matching anybody this year.
“We have another tough draw against Morpeth Town, but we have a good squad of players.
“You need a lot of luck in the Vase. You need home draws and you need to play well on the day.
“You have to win eight games to get to Wembley. We have won one so far and we have won nine in the league on the bounce so there is no reason why we can’t.
“It would be the pinnacle of my managerial career to lead a team out at Wembley.
“I believe we can do it. I’m always positive about my football teams and always positive about FA Cup and FA Vase games because I love both competitions.
“I have been quite successful in them and I think this is the best squad I’ve ever had so I feel I should get further in the competition.”
Tadcaster are rated as one of the Toolstation Northern Counties East League’s best hopes in the Vase.
The NCEL has had a long barren run of no finalist since Brigg Town won the trophy in 2002 at Upton Park.
The glory days of the late eighties and early nineties of NCEL clubs reaching the final have long gone and Marshall gave his view on why the league has such a barren run.
“Like Shaw Lane have been drawn away at West Auckland and Barton are at Marske so we are so unlucky as a league,” he added.
“There are only seven clubs left in from the NCEL and we’re only in the second round.
“Two of them have been drawn against top Northern League sides.
“I remember a number of NCEL clubs getting to Wembley in the 1990s.
“They had a good run. Bridlington got to the final, North Ferriby, Guiseley, Brigg won it twice.
“It stopped when the better teams moved into what is now the Evo Stik and after that we have struggled.
“It’s time for it to happen again.”