Isuzu FA Vase preview: Cockfosters vs Punjab United – Chipie Sian has a stable diet!

COCKFOSTERS 

PUNJAB UTD

Saturday March 28, ko 3pm

Punjab United have picked up some tips from the top ahead of the biggest game in their history – from current FA Vase holders Whitstable Town.

Whitstable famously lifted the Vase trophy at Wembley last May after beating AFC Whyteleafe 3-2 in a thrilling finale.

This year’s challengers, Punjab, went head-to-head with the Oystermen in the Southern Counties East League on Tuesday night – and popular chairman/ manager Chipie Sian admits he couldn’t help but bend the ears of their Kent rivals as they prepare for their two-legged semi-final with Cockfosters, starting Saturday.

“Whitstable have been brilliant,” Sian told The NLP. “The two managers [Jamie Coyle and Matt Longhurst] gave me an insight into the whole thing and, if we do get to Wembley, the preparation, the journey up there and the week up to leading up to it, everything.”

Help

He continued: “It all helps and, I mean, it’s what’s clubs should be doing, right? You all help each other.

“They were saying that if we get there, they’ll all come and support us as well.

“I think it’s really nice that we’ve got a lot of love from all the clubs we have played against recently. They’ve all come up to us at the end and said we want you to do it.

“We’re really grateful for the messages of support – it’s just about going out there, trying our best, and doing our thing now.”

UNITED WE STAND: Punjab United impressed during their quarter-final win over Downton

PICTURE: Vijay Singh Bedesha

Proud

For Sian, this FA Vase run represents the pinnacle of a proud 23-year history of the Sikh-owned Gravesend club, which he helped set through humble beginnings of the local leagues.

“After 23 years of hard work, it’s amazing,” he added. “These last seven or eight years, when we moved into Saturday football, have just been phenomenal and this is the highlight of it all.

“And if we can somehow get this club to Wembley, that will just cap it off for me.

“Winning a league and all that stuff is great, don’t get me wrong. But I think to get our club to Wembley, it’s a one-off.

“It will probably never happen for any of us again.

“So I’m trying to say to the boys, ‘look, you can do this’. If you do this, you’re making club history for us and yourselves as well.”

TEARS OF JOY: Punjab United supremo Chipie Sian

Nervous

Both Punjab and Cockfosters are chasing a play-off place from their respective Step 5 divisions and Sian admitted there are naturally a few nerves in the camp with such a lot at stake.

“I’m excited by it, but I know there are a few who are a bit nervous about it,” he accepts.

“But if I get it right and my team gets it right, I’m confident that we can, we can go there and do a job.

“The players need to feel that the management team is on it, and if we’re nervous, then they’ll come out nervous, and then everyone gets edgy, so we try to keep them sort of grounded.

“Cockfosters are a good side, and we’ll respect that, but so are we. It’s a big occasion, so we’ll go out and play that big occasion.

“We’re not scared of anyone.”