Scott Whibley Interview (12/11/13)

Interview by Matt Harris

Scott Whibley has become part of the furniture around Culverden Stadium. Highly popular with supporters and team-mates alike, he’s been around for virtually all of the Martin Larkin-era and has been a core part of the side - racking up 140 appearances and weighing in with seven goals since joining from Crowborough Athletic.

Having enjoyed his day at Wembley in May and acquired a taste for the success the FA Vase can offer, www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk caught up with Scott prior to the visit of his former club to get his thoughts on the big match…

TWFC: Scott, you originally joined The Wells from Crowborough. How long were you there for, do you have any special memories of your time with them, and what persuaded you to swap the blue shirt for a red one?

SW: I was there for around a year after I left Sevenoaks. Former Wells player Benji Agana recommended me to them. There are a lot of memories I have from being at Crowborough - all the boys at the time were top-draw and the fans similar to the fans at The Wells. And playing Ryman League football week-in, week-out; although we didn't win much in my time there, it was still a great experience!

I left Crowborough the following season as the travelling got too much for me and I took a few weeks out before I got a call from Larks asking me to come down to Culverden. I haven’t looked back since then!

TWFC: This is clearly a massive local derby to the fans - but tell us what it’s going to mean to the players of both sides, especially considering that many of The Wells side are locally-based…

SW: It will mean a lot to the players of both sides, especially being local lads! Everyone wants the bragging rights that are up for grabs and I'm sure everyone will be pumped before the game.

But when the boys are out on the pitch it will just be another game of football - with the added bonus of it being the start of the Vase. We can also give something back to the amazing fans that turn up week-in, week-out to support us by getting through to the next round and starting the Wembley run again!

TWFC: The manager’s already pointed out that last year’s Vase exploits have equipped the squad for handling ‘big days’ in football. Tell us from your perspective about the character in the squad and how you reckon it helps you shoulder that “last year’s finalists” label that’ll make you the team to beat in this year’s competition?

SW: The character in the squad is unbelievable. Everyone is so tight-knit it's like having 20 brothers! There were so many times last year that we went behind in games and turned the game on its head and won. I’m thinking of places like Larkhall, Binfield - and no one will forget that Shildon game… it’s not that we played well all game up there, but we hung in there and to get two goals at a hostile ground sums us up. We just don't know when we're beaten - there's a never-say-die attitude around the squad. Everyone is a winner!

So having the label as ‘the team to beat’ is something we will relish as it means teams will raise their game against us. That’ll push us even further to ensure we come out winners and get back to the levels we reached last year, hopefully going one better to win it this year. But we have to take each game as it comes and stay focused. We know what it takes to get there and nothing less will be good enough.

TWFC: You’ve built a reputation as the font of knowledge on all-things-local-football here at Culverden. Does that extend to your old club and what they’ll bring to the table? What can supporters expect from the encounter?

SW: [Laughing] Apparently I'm ‘Mr. Non-League’. I’m not sure where they've got that from!

I know a bit about my old side as a couple of old Wells players are there. They will be fired up for the game. There are a lot of young lads in their side and it will all be about how they deal with the big crowd and atmosphere. I doubt if many of them will have played in front of a bigger or noisier crowd than what's expected at Culverden.

They’re having a great season in the league and will come into the game full of confidence. So it will be up to us to stick to the game plan and do our jobs to ensure we go through to the next round!

TWFC: Unfortunately you have to sit this one out as you’re recovering from an injury. How’s that coming along and when can we expect to see you back in action?

SW: Yes, unfortunately I am missing for the big game. I'm gutted to be on the sidelines, but these things happen - it's football!

The injury is slowly, but surely getting better with rest and physio. I started light training last week and I’m hoping to be back in full training in three weeks’ time. Hopefully the boys will go easy on me! I’ll be back playing from then if the ‘gaffa’ selects me, but at the minute I’m just trying to get my fitness back after a long time out.

Preferred Partners :