Coming up against a former club is always some special but to come up against them in the FA Cup takes it to a new level and that is what faces Spartans midfielder Shaun Vipond. Today’s FA Cup Second Qualifying Round draw saw Spartans drawn against Vipond’s former club Workington, in a tie that will take place on Saturday week at Croft Park. Not that the Hexham born player is the only Spartan with connections to the Borough Park club, manager Tommy Cassidy and defender Joe Kendrick both had spells with the Reds.
Obviously Spartans faced Workington twice last season in the Blue Square North but Vipond missed both games with a broken leg so is eager to make up for lost time. He said “I was excited when I heard the draw, it’s always exciting when it’s the FA Cup but when I heard we were playing Workington it was a bit more special because it was my former club and I missed the opportunity to play in both games against them last year with my broken leg”.
However despite being on a four game unbeaten run and confidence on the upturn at Croft Park, Vipond warned his side that Workington, currently sitting in mid-table in the Blue Square North, will provide a stern test. He said ” It will be a very hard game probably one of the hardest we could have got at this stage, they have started well in their league and i expect them to be pushing for the play offs at the end of the season. they will be organised and work really hard, they also have quality in the team with players such as Gareth Arnison and Jonny Wright up front”.
Vipond spent three separate spells at Borough Park under current manager Darren Edmonson and knows the players well, but there’s only one result he wants to see. He said “I loved my time up there, the manager Darren Edmonson was brilliant with me and I still keep in contact with a most of the lads. It will be a good game but I hope it will be Blyth’s name in the hat for the next round”. Everyone connected with Spartans will second that comment.
The game will take place on Saturday 22nd September at Croft Park with a 3pm kick off.