Jarrow Roofing Bolden CA v Deal Town

DEAL Town’s unlikely run to the last 32 of this season’s FA Vase takes them to the north east this weekend to meet a club whose entire history is even more improbable.

Jarrow Roofing Bolden CA were only founded in 1987 and started off playing Sunday League football before switching to Saturday League and rising rapidly to the Northern League.

Their manager, Richard Mc-Loughlin, who is also the chairman, was one of the two co-founders of the club. He runs his own roofing firm and the club actually play at Bolden, thus explaining the team’s rather long-winded name.

McLoughlin said: “We were offered a bit of derelict land by the local council on which to build a community football club and so it’s been a bit of a rags to riches story.”

Jarrow, whose full name is actually Jarrow Roofing Bolden Community Association, enjoyed their best season last year, finishing eighth in the Northern League Division 1 and reaching the semi-finals of the prestigious Durham Challenge Cup.

But this season they have found life tougher going and are in 18th place following Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at Billingham Town.

Like Deal, they have defied the odds in getting this far in the Vase, notably with their 3-1 success over Cheshire club Cammell Laird in the previous round.

But McLoughlin admitted: “We have been leaking goals a bit recently and we will be without one of our centre-halves, Scott Garrett, on Saturday.”

Garrett is Newcastle United’s physio and will be travelling to London on Saturday with the Magpies squad ahead of Sunday’s clash with Arsenal at Highbury.

Midfielder Michael Irvine will also be missing on Saturday with a knee injury, all of which is good news for Deal manager Derek Hares as he prepares for the club’s biggest match since he became manager.

Hares, whose side gained a timely 2-1 league win over Hythe on Saturday, said: “The lads can’t wait for the game and it should be a great experience for them and for the people who are making the trip up there to support us.

“Beating Hythe was important. We needed the points and it has also lifted us for Saturday, and I think we are capable of nicking a result.”

New signing Alex Hossick is cup-tied and fellow midfielder Darren Waring cannot make the trip because of work commitments, but otherwise Hares has a full squad to pick from.

If Saturday’s tie finishes level after extra time, the replay will be at the Charles Ground on January 29.

KM-fm Sports Editor Simon Watts spoke to Derek Hares ahead of the tie...