NEEDHAM Market boss Danny Laws has pleaded for “numbers and volume” ahead of Saturday's FA Vase quarter-final clash with Chalfont St Peter.

NON-LEAGUE

By Mike Bacon

NEEDHAM Market boss Danny Laws has pleaded for “numbers and volume” ahead of Saturday's FA Vase quarter-final clash with Chalfont St Peter.

The Bloomfields-based club are hoping to make it successive seasons in the final four of the Vase and put themselves once again just one step away from Wembley.

Classy Chalfont, from Buckinghamshire, will provide tough opposition. But Laws knows what will help his side.

“The fans have been superb to us this season,” he said.

“We posed the question to them earlier on about their support and noise and they have responded.

“On Saturday we need volume and numbers, preferably both. It makes a difference and I need our fans to realise this.”

Needham go into Saturday's game on the back of a fine win against Dereham in the fifth round and an even better victory in round four, where they knocked out holders AFC Fylde, in Blackpool.

The Needham pitch - such a bog against Dereham - has enjoyed two weeks rest and will certainly be in better shape on Saturday.

Laws has insisted he will not accept excuses about pitches, weather or any outside element for his side's performances. And he feels that mantra is getting through to his players.

“The ref decides the pitch is fit and that's the end of it,” Laws said.

“We rid ourselves of excuses, excuses don't help.”

Needham reached the semi-finals last season before losing to eventual winners Kirkham & Wesham, and they would be guaranteed a good support at Wembley if they did go one better this term.

When Sudbury Town reached Wembley in 1989 they had around 15,000 cheering them in their 1-1 draw against Tamworth.

And Lowestoft Town showed how Suffolk folk will support their non-league sides on such grand occasions as a Wembley final when they took 14,000 to Wembley last season for the Vase final.

“We would hope to get good support at Wembley,” said Needham chairman David Bugg.

“But we are a long way from that at the moment and we not counting our chickens.

“There were plenty of tears last year when we lost at the final hurdle and we know how difficult it is to reach Wembley.”

On the player front Needham are sweating on the fitness of star man Craig Parker, while Mark Bailey is suspended.

Mike.bacon@archant.co.uk

IN FACT FILE

CHALFONT ST PETER FACTS

Population: 13,000

Chalfont St Peter is part of a small group of villages called The Chalfonts, that include Chalfont St Giles and Little Chalfont

Chalfont St Peter is one of the largest villages in the UK

The village has a reputation for being very upmarket and property prices are high

Located in the commuter belt of London

The area is know as a mini Hollywood, and Ozzy Osbourne has a house in the village.

Pinewood and Elstree film studios are in close proximity