Atherstone Town club chairman rises to salute 'walking miracles' from Sheepy Road to Wembley

Chairman Brian Henney has given an unequivocal vote of confidence to the management twin-force of Scott Rickards and Mike Fowler as he offered his upbeat verdict on Adders' journey to the home of football.

The Sheepy Road to Wembley – tantalisingly within Atherstone Town Community FC's grasp – sees mid-table Midland Football League Premier side Worcester City standing in their way on Saturday to a quarter-final berth.

But thoughts of the 105-mile journey to north London – now just three hurdles away – would not have been possible four months ago when Scott Rickards and Mike Fowler rekindled their partnership to take on the challenge of the Adders.

Henney, in praising the manager-coach duo for guiding the team to the last 16 of the FA Vase and just one defeat in their last 16 games, trumpeted: "They've worked miracles in a short space of time.

"And if we win on Saturday, our next game will be the biggest in the club's history in terms of getting close to Wembley."

As Atherstone Town, the club has never reached the quarter-final stage of the competition.

Henney, seen by many as the saviour of the Sheepy Road Club steeped in non-league footballing history, is in no doubt the side can progress in tomorrow's tie at the Mark Webster Community Stadium.

"We have every opportunity of going to the finals," added the 59-year-old.

Certainly Rickards knows just what it's like to be an underdog in a FA contest and reach for the seemingly unattainable. He was part of the Tamworth side that made it all the way to the FA Trophy final against Burscough at Villa Park in season 2002/03.

The Adders manager is comfortable with the team being seen as underdogs for this Vase tie, despite the giant-killing act last time against competition favourites Stockton Town and also being second top scorers in the tournament this season with 26 goals.

One trophy is already in the bag – Adders having picked up the Midland Football League's Team of the Month award for January.

Rickards told the Non-League paper: "In my eyes, we are not a Step 6 team – I think we could hold our own at the level above.

"A Midlands derby is probably the best draw we could have hoped for, we can't wait to get going and see how far the journey takes us".

Worcester boss Ashley Vincent must be worried as he sees Atherstone – the lowest-placed team left in the competition – as "always performing" in the top clashes and own his side suffering from travel sickness with just two victories away from home in the league this season.

The Midland Football League will be sure of at least side in the last eight of the competition – with Worcester City sitting in 11th place in the MFL Premier.

Footnote: Let's get behind the Adders and if you can spare 105 minutes tomorrow (plus added time) then get down to the Mark Webster Community Stadium and give the lads all the support they deserve (kick-off 3pm).

Ground assistance would still be welcomed by the club on the day, it told the Atherstone Nub News.

For the club site, click the red buton below.