Chaddy’s day in the spotlight

Chadderton FC: in training for FA Vase match

Non-League football: CHADDERTON joint-managers Steve Patterson and Mark Cook are playing it cool as they gear up for the club’s biggest game in years.

Saturday will see the in-form North-West Counties League First Division team play host to Northern Counties East League second-tier outfit AFC Mansfield in an FA Carlsberg Vase fourth-round clash.

It is a last-32 tie in a prestigious competition which boasts a Wembley Stadium final at the end of the season, and it’s the furthest the Broadway club has ever reached in a tournament entered by more than 530 teams.

A huge day beckons for everyone at the local club, but Patterson and Cook are keen to keep the players’ feet on the ground.

Patterson said: “It’s crept up on us, but though the players appreciate just what’s at stake now, me and Cooky have been trying to underplay it.

“We’re in good form at the moment. For the first time during our two years in charge here we’ve got a 100 per cent fully-fit squad available for selection, so we’re trying to treat it as just another game.

“We were disappointed to have last weekend’s game postponed as we were hoping to fine tune a few things at Northwich Flixton Villa, but we are ticking over nicely and we’ll be fine for Saturday.

“There are no excuses for us now.”

Saturday’s big match kicks-off at 3pm.