Graham Nicholas admits that Garforth Town will have to go the extra mile in the West Riding County Cup final at Valley Parade tomorrow night
Can Garforth Town replicate the heroics of Eccleshill United and Athersley Recreation?
That’s the mission for Garforth tomorrow night when they head to Valley Parade to meet Conference North outfit Bradford (Park Avenue) in the West Riding County Cup final.
Toolstation NCEL Premier Division side Garforth face their greatest test to lift the trophy for the first time since 2010.
But, the past 12 months shows that the impossible can happen. Eccles hill United pulled off one of the biggest shocks in living memory to beat Harrogate Town in last year’s final.
Athersley Rec followed that up a month later by incredibly beating Frickley Athletic in the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup final.
Garforth manager Graham Nicholas admits that his young team face a mammoth task, but agrees that Athersley are a team to take inspiration from.
“I was at Sheffield Wednesday for the game when Athersley beat Frickley,” said Nicholas, whose side also upset the applecart by beating a very strong Harrogate team in the semi-finals.
“Athersley stepped up and performed on the night and if you have good honest lads like Athersley have got and like we have got, you step up to the occasion.
“There are shocks in football and hopefully we can go out and create a shock.
“I think we are capable, but I fully agree that they have to go the extra mile.
“They have to go above and beyond what they are used to.
“Having watched them, Avenue are very lively. They should be fitter than us, but on the day anything could happen and because I have young lads they will be ready.
“We don’t fear anyone. We’ll go and enjoy the night.”
The final is the highlight of Nicholas’ reign at Garforth which began in July 2013.
Nicholas started with nothing as the club had been saved from oblivion at the end of the previous season.
He slowly built a team which stabilised Garforth in the NCEL. He has done well again this season and has won many plaudits for some exceptional results against high-flying teams.
Nicholas added: “I’ve throughly enjoyed this season and I have been preparing the lads as much as I can for the final.
“Hopefully we can go there and give a good account of themselves and hopefully luck will be on our side on the night.
“It is massive night for the club.
“When you put everything into context in terms of the budget, in terms of the young lads we are playing.
“I believe in the lads and I believe they are as good as anyone in the league.
“I think Bradford (Park Avenue) will be looking at Tadcaster and saying they have done the double over us and saying that if we can beat Tadcaster, we can beat Garforth.
“We will be ready. We have some young future stars in the making who are brilliant footballers.
“I’m really proud to get to the final, but I’m not surprised.
“I think it has been coming because I know what the lads are capable of.
“It is now about ‘can we perform on the day?’
“They should be excited, but we go as clear underdogs. The occasion will hopefully be brilliant, regardless of whether we win or not.”