Hamworthy protege Jack has big boots to fill

By Andy Mitchell

FINAL FOUR: Hamworthy celebrate their penalty shoot

JACK Lovell admits his FA Vase-winning dad’s legendary status is “hard to live up to” but reckons emulating his Wembley exploits will give him the family bragging rights.

The 28-year-old frontrunner is a regular in the Hamworthy United side that will lock horns with Newport Pagnell Town in Saturday’s semi-final.

Dad Jason Lovell, who came off the bench to feature in Wimborne Town’s FA Vase triumph over Guiseley in 1992, remains one of the best-known names on Dorset’s Non-League circuit having continued playing well into his forties.

That has inevitably led to comparisons throughout Jack’s career but far from adding pressure, Lovell Jnr relishes his old man’s place in local folklore – even if he is out to make an even bigger mark.

“It would be unbelievable to get there,” said Jack.

“He played at the old Wembley and I reckon it would be a bigger achievement if I got there now.

“We haven’t spoken about it too much, I think he is trying to avoid hyping it up and putting too much pressure on that one game.

“He was such a machine in terms of goalscoring. I am a different type of player but I like it because wherever I play in the country there is always someone who remembers my dad.

“I love that and I always stop for a few minutes for a chat so I can tell him about it. It is good to go back and give him those memories from his playing days.

“It has always been hard to live up to his standards but I think I am doing that. I am dreaming of getting to the final but we will see what happens.”

The Hammers, who established themselves as firm favourites for the Wessex League Premier Division title by seeing off fellow challengers Shaftesbury 2-1 in midweek, have been marked as Vase outsiders with the bookies.

But Lovell is bullish, particularly after a couple of escapes in the early rounds.

“From the first game everyone at the club made the Vase one of the targets,” he revealed.

“The squad is so good, every player in the team has played at a higher level and the younger lads have such bright futures ahead of them. The team is definitely good enough to win it.

“In the first few games I think we were a bit too confident. We got through the first two rounds on penalties in games that we probably should have lost, we were really poor but since then we have gone into every tie with a completely different mindset.

“We know we need to be 100 per cent but if we are, we have a massive chance of getting to Wembley. It is nearly a reality.”