Deal Town’s 2000 FA Vase winning manager Tommy Sampson missed Whitstable Town’s Wembley win but was ‘there in spirit’ said Oysters boss Jamie Coyle

Whitstable Town manager Jamie Coyle was keen to speak to an absent legend following Sunday’s FA Vase victory.

The Oystermen became the second Kent team to win the FA Vase - 25 years on from when Tommy Sampson guided Deal Town to their victory at the old Wembley in 2000.

Sampson’s team beat Chippenham Town 1-0 in their Vase final and no other team from the county had managed to match their success, until this weekend, when Coyle’s side clinched a comeback win to beat AFC Whyteleafe 2-1.

Coyle has appreciated the support they’ve had during their Vase run this season from Sampson and was gutted the Deal Town hero wasn’t able to watch their own triumph.

“He's been to nearly every game,” said Coyle.

“He's a real good friend of mine and his words to me were that he’s been sat at this table for far too long and he wanted to invite me along to be a winner of the Vase from Kent!

“It was such a shame he couldn't make it. He had a real nasty fall a couple of weeks ago, which completely opened up his eyebrow.

“He really wanted to be there but we've had some real deep conversations in the last two or three weeks.”

A dream finish to a playing career for @whitstabletown manager Jamie Coyle - Here's his reaction to their Wembley triumph