IT IS early Friday morning – a time when some students might be getting in after a good night out.
However, one group of football players at Loughborough University, are springing out of their beds not into them, ready for action at 7am.
They know they must not be a minute late as head coach Jamie Clapham is a stickler for good time keeping at training sessions on this day and Monday night.
No excuses, no exceptions, no matter how good you are. You risk losing your place in a team that is making waves beyond Leicestershire.
Loughborough Students, aged between 18 and 22, members of the United Counties League, are one step from securing a place in the FA Vase final at Wembley, for goodness sake.
Clapham, who graced the Premier League with Ipswich Town and Birmingham City, is thrilled with their progress in his debut season, saying: “It is incredible, unbelievable”
Goalkeeper Ben Whiting, 19, who has been a regular in a seven-match winning run and saved two penalties in two shootouts knows the rules.
And he is in no mood to give up his place, knowing the folks back home 300 miles away in Cornwall see him as an inspiration for local youngsters.
Whiting made his firstteam debut for St Day of the St Piran League at the age of 16 and kept his place after refusing to buckle when things got physical.
He maintains that mantra today in a league that features some ex-pros, who know all the tricks of the trade
“I have had stud marks on my chest”, Whiting told The NLP. “ You can have big guys battering you and it can be quite intimidating.
“But I have gained a lot of experience in the past few years and know I just have to focus on my own game.
“I have some traction in my career at the moment and it is a great time to be so close to Wembley. There is a sense of belief among the squad about what we can achieve.”
Mark Leah, chairman of St Day Youth, said: “Ben always showed potential after starting out with our under 14s.
“He was part of a squad, which are feted as the Invincibles after winning the treble without losing a match.
“To see where he is at now, Ben is showing what can be achieved and hopefully others will follow.as football comes second to rugby in Cornwall.”
Atmosphere
Standing in the Students way way are Littlehampton Town, of the Southern Combination, who celebrated reinstatement in the Vase by despatching former winners North Shields in the quarter finals.
Whiting played at the ground for Sussex University, where he studied law before moving to Loughborough and switching to financial accounting.
He also had spells with Eastbourne Borough and Worthing after turning out in the National Football Youth League for Chelsea, in a partnership with Truro and Penryn College.
Littlehampton attracted over 2,000 fans in their quarter-final win and Whiting added: “It should be a raucous atmosphere and one I am looking forward to.”
● Loughborough Students lifted their first trophy of the season on Wednesday in the prestigious British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) National Championship.
Clapham’s side showed their mettle to twice come from behind to defeat Nottingham Trent University 4-2 under the lights at Basford United‘s Greenwich Avenue ground.
The Students had earlier knocked out strong Scottish and Welsh opposition in the shape of the University of Stirling and Cardiff Met – teams that play at a high level in their domestic leagues.
