The non-league spotlight has been shinning on Wembley's Vale Farm ground of late, as with the help of sponsorship from Budweiser, the Combined Counties Premier Division club have signed up a number of football legends to play in their FA Cup games for the season. David Seaman, Martin Keown, Graeme Le Saux, Claudio Caniggia and Brian McBride will all be involved along with technical advisor Terry Venables in the dug out when The Lions take to the field on Saturday 11th August for their Extra Preliminary Round game. ESPN will also be covering the club's fortunes in a programme entitled "Dream on...the journey of Wembley FC"
There are also reports that the game with Spartan South Midlands League Division One Langford FC may be featured live on EPSN. TheColdEnd spoke exclusively to Langford centre forward Kane Dougherty (whom moved to Forde Park from Baldock Town over the summer) to get the away side's take on the highly anticipated upcoming game -
What's the feeling around the club following the FA Cup draw?
Everybody is buzzing. It’s always a great day for any amateur/semi-pro player when they get the chance to play in the FA Cup and the fact that we got the plumb draw against Wembley FC away just adds to that. We are all working hard to get a place in the squad on the day and pre-season has gone really well.
This must be one of the biggest game of your football career so far? Have you played in the FA Cup before??
Yes (providing I am included in the squad!!) I’d certainly say it’s the ‘biggest’ game I would have played in due to the media coverage and the opposition. I have played in the FA Cup on a couple of occasions before with our local rivals Stotfold, and it’s always a great day for everyone around the club. We also had a great run in the FA Vase at Stotfold a couple of years ago that we all really enjoyed.
With the game being covered on ESPN have any of the squad been practising goal celebrations...just in case?
I can’t lie and say we haven’t discussed it! But if I’m honest if any of us score a meaningful goal it would probably just result in a rugby tackle and an 11 man bundle!
Which Wembley star are you most looking forward to playing against?
Well if I am lucky enough to get the nod I’d certainly be looking forward to facing Martin Keown. Over the years of watching him in the Premiership I know he won’t be taking any nonsense, which would be intriguing for me as I love a physical battle.
Can Langford's back four cope with Claudia Caniggia (50+ caps for Argentina) and Brain McBride (96 caps for the USA)??
I remember watching Canniggia at the 94 World Cup and he was absolutely lightning; so I’m hoping he’s lost a yard or two since then! McBride is going to be incredibly difficult to deal with, he was playing in the Premiership less than 5 years ago and has only stopped playing in the MLS a couple of years ago. I think it’s important though that we don’t just focus on the ‘famous’ players because Wembley are going to have plenty of talented players already in their ranks.
What Langford player(s) should viewers of ESPN look out for?
Louis Taylor has also made the move over from Baldock Town (Hertfordshire Senior County Premier Division title winners for 2011/12) and is always a huge threat when going forward. Usually playing on either side of a front 3, he has pace and strength to burn so should be an exciting player to watch. I’d definitely fancy him in a foot race against Graeme Le Saux!
How well can Langford do in the Spartan South Midlands League Division One this season? Which team, aside from the Cup game against Wembley, are you most looking forward to playing?
I think that Langford is a great local club that should really be plying their trade in the SSML Premier, so that will be the aim. Obviously we are taking it one game at a time but with the players and the backroom staff we have at the club this season, I know for a fact that we can give anybody in this league a run for their money. We have Codicote in our first game of the season, and I think that will be a really interesting game. I played against them for Baldock Town last season and they were in fantastic form towards the end of the campaign, so it will be a tough game to open our season with.
You can follow Kane on Twitter @kdkane87. TheColdEnd wishes Langford FC all the best in the game against Wembley and can highly recommend a trip to Forde Park which is a lovely place to watch football.
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