By Kevin Redsull

Deal’s penalty shoot-out defeat in their FA Vase Quarter-Final at Lincoln United will have come as a particular disappointment to former manager Tommy Sampson.

Sampson was beginning to look forward to reliving that special moment 24 years ago when he led the Hoops to Wembley glory in the Vase.

Deal remain the only Kent club to have lifted the trophy thanks to Roly Graham’s never-to-be-forgotten winning goal in the 2000 Final against Chippenham Town.

And Sampson also has the consolation of seeing his second book published today (Friday).

Entitled ‘From The Den To Wembley’, it tells the story of his playing and managerial career which started at Millwall and climaxed with the Hoops’ triumph in the last Final to be played at Wembley before it was redeveloped and follows his 2013 book ‘Sudden Exit’ a memoir about his life-changing stroke in 2007.

Although the current squad will now not be able to emulate the class of 2000 this season, Sampson is a big fan of Steve King’s side.

“I really love this club and what they are doing now is amazing,” he said.

“I never thought I would see another Deal team get close to Wembley again because of finances and maybe the structure of the club, but the current committee have turned things around and, on the pitch, Steve’s side is exciting to watch. They’ve got pace and also a big goal threat.”

But Sampson is not willing to compare the current side with his team, saying: “Honestly, you cannot do that.

“Football is so very different now at all levels and I would not dare compare the two teams.

“My team were not that exciting to watch but they had a lot of experience and they got the job done.”

Sampson’s squad included “old hands” like Steve Lovell who has made an emotional contribution to the book along with Alan Walker, who were both with Sampson at Millwall.

“The Den was where I started with Millwall as a 15-year-old apprentice and the book covers a journey of 31 years ending with the Vase Final of 2000,” Sampson added.

The Vase-winning team did not stay together, with everything falling apart very quickly after chairman Roy Smith’s departure and Sampson himself moved on to have stints in charge of clubs such as Ashford, Boreham Wood and Dartford.

He recalled: “I had chairmen ringing me up all the time saying ‘If you are not doing anything at the moment, why don’t you come and manage us?’ and I ended up staying in management for another four years.

“But leaving Deal was heartbreaking because all my team then went all over Kent playing for other teams and, if we had stayed together at Deal, we would have reached the Conference South. I‘m sure of it.

“Apart from Steve Lovell, we had other very experienced players like Terry Martin and Marc Seager, and also Craig Tucker in goal, who was a superb keeper.

“Craig was big and strong and he had a wonderful game in the second leg of the Vase Semi-Final against Newcastle Town.”

Sampson’s book is being officially launched at The Den and he said: “I’m so proud of myself that I managed to write it because I’m still suffering from the stroke which I had in 2007.

“I started writing the book just before Covid and, as soon as the restrictions were lifted, it gave me the enthusiasm to carry on.

“There were two or three occasions when I thought it was too much.

“It was a little bit too much to chew than I could handle but it was more like therapy in a way, talking to old friends and writing about Wembley. It gave me a lift because I’ve been under terrible pressure through my health but people are always kind to me.

“Whenever I go to Deal, I’m treated like a king, which is lovely and I wouldn’t expect anything else.”

‘From The Den To Wembley’ is published by Victor Publishing and will cost £11.99.