Daish on brink of Trophy glory

11:50am Thursday 8th May 2008

EBBSFLEET United may only have existed for a year, but it has certainly been a memorable 12 months down at Stonebridge Road.

The club, formerly known as Gravesend & Northfleet, have had a change of name, sealed a record sponsorship deal with Eurostar, been taken over by a supporters' website and this Saturday they appear at Wembley in the FA Trophy final.

More than 25,000 supporters will make the journey from north Kent and beyond to the national stadium as the Fleet attempt to beat Torquay United and claim non-league's most glamorous prize.

Head coach Liam Daish has transformed the club's fortunes in the past two years after a tricky start to life in the hotseat when succeeding Andy Ford in February 2005.

But three-and-a-half years on, the former Republic of Ireland international is on the brink of giving the club their most famous day ever.

He said: "The league season is finally over and it seems a long time ago now since the second leg of the semi-final against Aldershot.

"We've been so focused on winning the numerous league games we had in April we haven't really had time to think about this until now.

"I'm sure it will start hitting home as this week goes on, though, and enormity of it will start to show the closer we get."

Daish is no stranger to Wembley having played there during his playing career for both Birmingham City and Cambridge United.

The stadium has since been completely transformed since then and Daish admits he would much rather be out on the pitch than in the dugout.

He said: "It is a very different Wembley today from when I played there, although it will be a different experience for me anyway as this time I am on the sidelines.

"It would be brilliant to be playing on the day but my priority is to make sure the tactics are right and we win the game."

Ebbsfleet have certainly earned their right to take part in the final having overcome the likes of Weymouth, Burton Albion and Aldershot on the road to Wembley.

The run began with a 4-1 win against Carshalton in December and few would have predicted then Ebbsfleet would make it all the way.

Few that is apart from Daish, who claims he was inspired to land the Trophy after attending last year's final.

He explained: "I remember thinking to myself then it would be great if we could be in it next time and here we are 12 months later.

"We had some really tough games to get this far and I don't think it was until the final whistle went at Aldershot when everyone realised what we had actually done.

"There were some big swings in emotions at Aldershot because we went there with a deserved two-goal lead from the first leg and they scored early in the second game.

"We scored in injury-time so it was right up in the air until then.

"The atmosphere afterwards was amazing with the realisation we had achieved something for the club and the area.

"If we win on Saturday it will hopefully help to take the club to the next level."