Hawks’ hero has a dream
SCOTT RENDELL has FA Cup memories to last a lifetime – but that doesn’t stop the Havant & Waterlooville striker dreaming of more!
The National League South Hawks travel to League One strugglers Charlton Athletic on Saturday.
As a club they’ve enjoyed some magical FA Cup days – not least a trip to Liverpool’s Anfield – while manager Paul Doswell masterminded Sutton United’s run to the fifth round in 2017 when they played Arsenal.
Rendell will forever be in the history books for scoring the goal that saw Luton Town beat Norwich City in 2013 and become the first Non- League team to knock out a topflight side in the Premier League era.
“What an experience, what a day to be part of,” Rendell told The NLP. “I only played 15 minutes so the boys before that did a fantastic job. We needed that bit of luck but you know you’ll always get chances. As a striker all you can wish for is that one chance at 0-0.
“It went mad for a good few weeks and months after that. It’s something I am really proud of. It will stick with me for life.”
Rendell, who scored in Havant’s 4-2 fourth round qualifying replay win over Torquay United, has just turned 35 but he says that FA Cup feeling is just as special after all these years.
“It’s weird – throughout my career I’ve always managed to have a good run or score some goals in the FA Cup. It’s something that sits really well with me. I love the games.
“Dos (boss Doswell) is the same. He loves the FA Cup, it’s the best competition in the world to him and I have to agree. When you get this far you want one of the big boys, and Charlton are one of the biggest in it at this stage.
“There are plenty of players in our squad who haven’t experience the first round of the FA Cup and it’s going to be a big stage.”
It will also be a first experience for his nine-year-old son Finley, who will be at Charlton cheering on dad, who is determined to savour the moment at this point in his career.
“I turned 35 last week and I’m not stupid, I know I haven’t got that many years left,” Rendell said. “But I still feel really fit. I train every day. We missed the whole of last year so that’s one I can claim back on the body.
“I’m going to take my boy. He wasn’t born when we beat Norwich. He loves football and he’s excited to come. It will be his first big FA Cup game.
“It’s a big thing for me going into it now he understands his dad can play a little bit of football, sometimes.”
