THEY'VE already beaten ten clubs at levels above them in the non-league pyramid this season, and now FC Clacton are gunning to make that 11.

Mike Bacon

THEY'VE already beaten ten clubs at levels above them in the non-league pyramid this season, and now FC Clacton are gunning to make that 11.

Tomorrow's FA Vase clash with United Counties League Holbeach United at Rush Green Bowl is significant on a number of counts.

None more so than it will equal the furthest the club has ever progressed in this national competition.

It's all quite a turnaround for the Essex club, who three seasons ago lost 41 out of 42 league games during an embarrassing season that saw them relegated to Ridgeons Division One.

Then the Seasiders were called Clacton Town, with a proud 115-year history, today under new directors and formed in 2007, it's FC Clacton - a new era - with the club having gone from whipping boys to serious opponents, under the leadership of manager David Coyle.

With father Danny the new club secretary, it's a bit of a family affair at Clacton, with boss David, 26, showing the way.

“I was involved with the team in that awful season when we lost 41 out of 42 league games,” David said.

“It was a real learning curve as I was assistant then. But I picked up the pieces the next season and things have gone well from there.

“The turnaround has been enormous because in that year, apart from the first team not winning a game, I don't think the reserves, A team or Under-18s did either.

“It hasn't been easy, of course. I was only 23 when I took over in charge, but people know what I'm about now and things are going OK.

“In the league we are mid-table, but have games in hand and we have done well in the FA Cup and Vase.

“To win on Saturday puts us in the last 32 of a national competition, the thought of that was miles away a few years ago.”

Indeed victory against Holbeach would equal Clacton's best-ever FA Vase run which was back in the 1974/5 season.

All a far cry from the awful season of 2005/06.

FC CLACTON NOW

FC Clacton's 2008/09 record against clubs above them in the non-league pyramid.

Aug 16 St Margaretsbury FAC won 2-0 (step five)

Aug 30 Stansted FAC won 4-0 (step five)

Sep 16 Clapton ESC won 8-1(step five)

Sep 20 Tokyngton Manor FAV won 6-2 (step five)

Sep 30 Whitton United RLC won 3-2 (step five)

Oct 4 Bedfont Green FAV won 4-1 (step five)

Oct 7 Harwich & Parkeston ESC won 2-1 (step five)

Oct 21 Felixstowe & Walton Utd RLC won 3-2 (step five)

Nov 4 Waltham Abbey ESC won 4-1 (step four)

Nov 15 Basildon United FAV won 4-0 (step five)

FAC: FA Cup, ESC: Essex Senior Cup, FAV: FA Vase, RLC: Ridgeons League Cup.

CLACTON TOWN THEN

Ridgeons Premier 2005/06

Bottom three

P W D L F A Pts.

Norwich United 42 10 6 26 47 82 36

Harwich 42 10 2 30 41 100 32

Clacton Town 42 0 1 41 20 179 1

*Clacton's draw was at home to King's Lynn Reserves

* There record defeat that season was 8-0 at home to Diss, although 2-9 at home to Halstead and two 0-7 home defeats to Lowestoft and Wisbech ran them close.