Winning the East Riding Cup would the icing on the cake for Bridlington Town’s season, according to Gary Allanson
Gary Allanson believes East Riding Cup success would be “the real icing on the cake” for Bridlington Town’s season.
Allanson’s Seasiders face Humber Premier League side Hull United tomorrow night at the KC Stadium in the final of the competition.
His side are looking to add to the club’s 15 wins in the competition, with the last coming in 2012.
Since then, Toolstation NCEL Premier Division side Bridlington have seen major changes on the pitch, with Allanson, who returned returned to the club in 2013, leading a focus on youth.
He believes a taste of success in the competition would push them to further success.
Allanson told Non League Yorkshire: “It has been a good season for us, but winning something like the ER Senior Cup will be the real icing on the cake for the season.
“It will be a great experience for the younger players and they will benefit from it.
“Overall it will be a great occasion for the whole club and for the Chairman Peter Smurthwaite who has backed the club to the hilt and does a lot of hard work behind the scenes that nobody else realises.
“He is highly respected by all the players so hopefully we can win it for him.”
Allanson is hoping to lift the trophy after defeat in the final last year at the hands of North Ferriby United.
Last season’s final was at the East Riding FA’s home on Inglemire Lane, as oppose to the traditional venue of KC Stadium, and Allanson admitted the change of venue meant the occasion was not as special.
He said: “It’s a great occasion to play at the KC, more so that Hull City are a Premier League football club, the facilities are fantastic and is a great opportunity for the players but also the Management staff and our supporters.
“We reached the Final last season but it was played at the East Riding HQ and it took a bit of gloss off the occasion.”
Meanwhile Bridlington’s opponents Hull United are preparing for their first ever final in their short existence after being formed in September last year.
But Allanson believes despite being a new side on Non-league scene in East Riding they are not an unknown quantity.
Allanson added: “They are a very good side, very organised, very hard working and have a very good team spirit.
“Jamie Waltham has done a brilliant job in promoting the club off the pitch and Curtis Woodhouse and Ian Ashbee have done a tremendous job on the pitch.
“You look at their careers and every one of them are winners and that is what they will be instilling into their players.
“You look at what they have achieved in the short time they have been together and you have to give them the utmost respect.
“They are in it for the long haul and are building solid foundations to push the club into a very successful era for them.
“We have watched them three or four times and we were very impressed each time we have seen them.”