Chairman Groves key to Spennymoor cup dream - Ainsley
Last updated on .From the section National League
Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley says chairman Bradley Groves has made their FA Vase dream become a reality thanks to his financial backing.
Moors face Guernsey in the semi-finals, and Groves will fund travel and hotels costing in the region of £24,000.
"We've made a loss in every round so far and it's a major loss financially," Ainsley told BBC Late Kick Off.
"But we want to get to the final and the chairman has given us the chance to do that."
Ainsley added: "The amount of work the chairman has done with the Football Association, the Northern League and the airlines is phenomenal."
With home draws in all but one of their Vase ties so far, the trip to Guernsey poses a difficult journey for everyone concerned, particularly the supporters.
"If there was a draw you didn't want because of the travel and expense for the fans, but the club will do everything they can to bring the costs down," Ainsley said.
"We'll probably take 100 supporters there, which is phenomenal.
"We've got to charter a flight from Newcastle, which is £18,500, then there's the hotel for two nights, 22 players and staff, so it's about £24,000 for a game of football."
If they reach the final, to be played at Wembley on 4 May, they would be the fourth different Northern League finalist in the last five years.
Whitley Bay won the competition three years running from 2009 to 2011, while Dunston UTS were victorious against fellow Northern League side West Auckland last season.
