Football fairy tale for Ashfield

Sunday, 4 August 2013 4:30 PM

A football fairy tale is unfolding in the far west as a giant killing run by second-tier club Ashfield SC has seen them claim a spot in the WA State Cup final, a feat that has only been achieved once before in the history of the competition.

The club knocked off high-flying Sterling Lions in the semi-final in now doubt one of the club’s finest football moments.

They’ve now set their sights on creating history and going on to win the Cool Ridge Cup final against Swan United on August 24.

“It is hugely exciting to have made the final,” said club President Bill Busby.

“We have a good bunch of lads without a big budget like the Premier League clubs so it has been brilliant to have got this far.

“It is a big buzz for the Ashfield community with everyone really getting behind the side.”

Ashfield was the first 1st division team to make the final since Queens Park did in 1990 with a strong semi-final victory against a side that at the time was sitting joint top of the Premier League table.

“To have knocked off the Sterling Lions was a really big victory for us,” continued Busby.

“There is no doubt that we played the better football as well. It is good to win sometimes with luck but when you‘re told by your peers that you were the better football team over the 90 minutes then you are even prouder.”

The past three years has been a steady progression for the club who have come together under coach Matt Carruthers.

“The victory shows what we have established since Matt came on board.

“He has been great in bringing the guys together as well as with training and his selection process that has now got us to this stage.

“The guys stand on the balcony and sing I want to be an Ashfield boy which we’ve made our theme song so it shows you how much they love the club and the team.”

Despite having already rewritten books Ashfield knows that it will mean little of they don’t go on and create more history in the final.

“We have stepped our training and we are making sure we don’t have any injuries or suspensions the best we can.
“We are the underdogs in the final. It is definitely a David and Goliath battle with Swan United having had a good string of results while we are not quite where we had hoped we’d be in our league.

“We are going to try and make history and we are not shy in stepping up to the plate. We will be pumped on the day and will have all the neutral supporters in our corner.”

The run the club has made exemplified the type of drama that the proposed FFA Cup is likely to bring to football at all levels around the country.

“The FFA Cup is going to be a great thing for football.

“A competition like that has been a long time coming but when it arrives I am sure that it will be extremely successful.

“No doubt teams, clubs and supporters will get right behind it.”

The final will take place at E & D Litis Stadium in Mount Hawthorn on August 24.

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/Football-fairy-tale-for-Ashfield/72036?