Whitstable Town player-boss Jamie Coyle urges club’s fans to make huge FA Vase fourth-round tie against Walsham Le Willows in Suffolk feel like a home match

Jamie Coyle is urging Whitstable’s travelling fans to make their FA Vase tie feel like a home match.

The Oystermen are off to in-form Eastern Counties League Premier Division team Walsham Le Willows in round four on Saturday.

With the Willows only attracting relatively modest crowds despite being on a four-game winning run, player-manager Coyle has encouraged the Whitstable faithful who embark on the 270-mile journey to take over in Suffolk.

He said: “We have seen a couple of their games.

“We actually sent someone to watch them on Saturday but it was cancelled! We’ve still managed to see two of their games on VEO [highlights].

“It would have been ideal for someone to see them for us on Saturday, but we cannot do anything about that.

“They have picked up a bit - like we have - because, when the draw was made, they were only in mid-table. We have looked at their strengths but also the areas where we can counteract them.

“We have got a lot of fans travelling, as well, so we’ll try to turn it into a home game for us. I think they only average crowds of about 70.

“It’s going to be a good tie and we will go into it with lots of confidence.”

The victors will earn £1,875 and move a step closer to a potential final at Wembley, with the Oystermen now also finding form in the Southern Counties East Premier Division after a tough start to the season.

Coyle said: “Our fans deserve a good cup run.

"They have stuck by us, even with our slow start to the season.

“They have been really patient with us as a management team and as a squad. This is the furthest the club has been in many years but we want to go further.

“We want to go through to the next round and, hopefully, get a home draw. It does add excitement and we want to keep going.