Punjab United are seeking to continue their historic Isuzu FA Vase run this weekend when they are due to host a last sixteen game for the first time in their history, but an old foe stands between Chipie Sian and his team and a place in the Quarter Finals.

After such a terrific run in the competition, Punjab’s date with destiny is far from being a step into the unknown – indeed they are scheduled to meet the same opposition in the SCEFL Premier four days later – their opposition is fellow play-off chasers in the League, Fisher!

We caught up with the Punjab boss this week and he was buzzing! 

“I am trying to calm things down and say that it’s just another game! But I know that everyone around me and everyone in town is talking about the game… all our kids’ teams are, it’s just phenomenal what we have achieved as a Club this year.

“It’s been really, really good and that consistent group of players and a good management team behind me working on things on and off the pitch, you get your rewards and it really is unbelievable for a team like Punjab United to be in the last sixteen of the whole country – it really is amazing and I hope it continues in and beyond Saturday!”

“I think a lot of the players wanted an away trip, but I didn’t want that – I wanted Gravesend to be able to come out and get behind us. Everyone at the Club is buzzing and we can’t ask more than being at home – we “just” have to go and perform now, that’s all, and get everyone’s mindset right form 3pm Saturday afternoon.”

Punjab and Fisher are joined in the last sixteen by holder Whitstable Town and Sian paid tribute to the three saying, “We have all done brilliantly at this stage and it would have been nice for all three to continue in the competition. It would have been nice to play someone different; I didn’t want to play one of our own!

“I like Ajay (Fisher boss Ajay Ashanike) we get on really well; he’s done a great job down there for many years. I am sure that he will say the same – we didn’t want to play each other, but that’s what draws are there for and on Saturday we will go out head-to-head and see what the best team wins.”

It truly will be a magical day for the Punjab supremo who has been associated with the Club for twenty-three years! “It’s gone mental really,” he confessed, “I don’t realise how long it is until I am asked about things built in May it will be twenty-three years!

“I have only ever sometimes dreamed that what we have done this year would be possible, never expecting it! Every year I’ve asked the boys for a good cup run in the Vase and we end up losing the first round we play more often than not! But this year I almost pleaded with them to do something – you see other sides have really good runs in it and we all saw what Whitstable did last year which was amazing… that is the pedestal, they were fantastic, they were consistent and I take my hat off to them – they were unbelievable. And they are back in the last sixteen as well this weekend.”

“I am not saying that we are Whitstable, but what I am saying is that if you get a good run anything can happen! That is the mindset we gave the team this year – can we do well in the Vase? And goodness haven’t they done well – it’s a team effort with everyone around the Club being fantastic and long may it continue.”

“It really is an amazing achievement, and if we can get through Saturday, oh my god I think there will be a party afterwards – the last eight in the whole country!!! It’s amazing to get here but can we go one step further?”