CLITHEROE skipper Barry Hart is hoping for a change to his FA Vase luck.
The 22-year-old has suffered a couple of mishaps in the competition in his short North West Counties career and reckons tomorrow is as good a time as any for his fortune to shift.
The ex-Oldham Athletic defender will lead his side out against Rushall Olympic in the quarter finals of the Vase at Shawbridge, in front of what it is hoped will be a bumper crowd.
"This is one of the biggest games of my career, certainly the biggest game I have played at this level," said the Royton-based left-back.
"When I was at Oldham I played against Manchester United and Liverpool in the reserves and they were big games but this compares to it. It is bigger even because those reserve games didn't really mean anything, it didn't really matter whether you won or lost, but this game does mean something.
"It means a lot to the players and everyone at the club. All the players will have been thinking about it all week, whatever they've been doing."
After Hart's previous encounters with the competition you could be forgiven for thinking he might be a little anxious about the game.
"In the quarter finals a couple of years ago, when we got knocked out at Tiverton, I got injured on the day of the game and didn't play.
"And this season, in the second round at Easington, I only played five minutes before I had to go hospital with a gashed leg. I thought I had broken my ankle, but it was OK."
He was out for six weeks, though, and then spent three weeks on the sidelines through suspension after a sending off against Darwen in the Floodlit Trophy.
"I am only just getting back to full fitness actually," said the softly-spoken Scot, who is getting married to fiancee Lynn in Ayr at the end of May. "And I can't wait for the game."
Clitheroe manager Dave Burgess has watched tomorrow's opponents Rushall twice in preparation for the game.
"He has told us that they are a good side but a side we should beat as long as we play to our best," said Hart, who is Clitheroe's only contracted player.
Burgess added: "If we play at our best I think we'll go through."
Rushall are currently third in the Midland Alliance league in the West Midlands.
"You are not third in the league and in the quarter finals of the Vase without biend a decent side.
"They are strong defensively but I am more concerned about what we do than them."
CLITHEROE skipper Barry Hart is hoping for a change to his FA Vase luck.
The 22-year-old has suffered a couple of mishaps in the competition in his short North West Counties career and reckons tomorrow is as good a time as any for his fortune to shift.
The ex-Oldham Athletic defender will lead his side out against Rushall Olympic in the quarter finals of the Vase at Shawbridge, in front of what it is hoped will be a bumper crowd.
"This is one of the biggest games of my career, certainly the biggest game I have played at this level," said the Royton-based left-back.
"When I was at Oldham I played against Manchester United and Liverpool in the reserves and they were big games but this compares to it. It is bigger even because those reserve games didn't really mean anything, it didn't really matter whether you won or lost, but this game does mean something.
"It means a lot to the players and everyone at the club. All the players will have been thinking about it all week, whatever they've been doing."
After Hart's previous encounters with the competition you could be forgiven for thinking he might be a little anxious about the game.
"In the quarter finals a couple of years ago, when we got knocked out at Tiverton, I got injured on the day of the game and didn't play.
"And this season, in the second round at Easington, I only played five minutes before I had to go hospital with a gashed leg. I thought I had broken my ankle, but it was OK."
He was out for six weeks, though, and then spent three weeks on the sidelines through suspension after a sending off against Darwen in the Floodlit Trophy.
"I am only just getting back to full fitness actually," said the softly-spoken Scot, who is getting married to fiancee Lynn in Ayr at the end of May. "And I can't wait for the game."
Clitheroe manager Dave Burgess has watched tomorrow's opponents Rushall twice in preparation for the game.
"He has told us that they are a good side but a side we should beat as long as we play to our best," said Hart, who is Clitheroe's only contracted player.
Burgess added: "If we play at our best I think we'll go through."
Rushall are currently third in the Midland Alliance league in the West Midlands.
"You are not third in the league and in the quarter finals of the Vase without being a decent side.
"They are strong defensively but I am more concerned about what we do than them."
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