Part Four of the FA Cup Week special blogs sees us catch up with Bishop’s Stortford fan Padraig Curran, a former stadium announcer at the ProKit UK Stadium. He discusses past glories, who the key men to watch will be on Sunday and predicts the outcome of the big game. You can follow Padraig on Twitter at @PadraigSCurran.
How did you come to support Bishop’s Stortford?
PC: I’ve lived in Bishop’s Stortford all my life and Stortford were always my local club, my Dad was born and bred and has lived all his life in the town and used to watch Stortford at Rhodes Avenue when he was a kid. My Grandad was also a Stortford fan and even played for the club for a little while, so I guess it’s in the blood really. I got my first season ticket aged 14 but used to watch the club fairly regularly before that.
What have been the highlights of your time supporting the Bishops?
PC: I’ve had some great experiences supporting Stortford with some great trips to away games and some brilliant matches at home. Watching Dwight Gayle at the club a couple of years back was fantastic and I’m glad that he’s made the move to Palace and is now a Premier League player. On a personal note, my highlight was being Stadium Announcer at Woodside Park for 2 seasons from the age of 16 up until the point I left for University. It was a great experience and I thoroughly enjoyed working at the club.
Who are your key men to watch?
PC: All of them!! Reece Prestedge has always been a great player for us, a commanding midfielder and really sorts the team out. From what I’ve seen so far this year from a distance, Kyle Vassell looks like a cracking player and has scored some great goals too for us so far not least the one only last weekend against Tonbridge Angels. Those two are probably the two to look out for next weekend.
What have been the key reasons behind your excellent start to the season?
PC: This is all down to the great work by our boss Rod Stringer and his coaching team. Rod has been fabulous since he came to this club, we had tough times in the North but he took us successfully through that difficult period in our history and we’re now reaping the rewards for his work on the pitch back in the South. He has brought in some great signings and has brought back a sense of confidence, self-belief and his team really gels together and is such a strong unit.
Any famous fans?
PC: Not that I know of! I suppose the Arsenal legend John Radford who was also our manager could count and also the BBC Radio One DJ Greg James who comes from the town.
Finally, a score prediction for the game?
PC: Stortford to nick it 2-1. Vassell to get them both!
Bishop’s Stortford Links…
Official Website: http://www.bsfc.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bishops.stortfordfc
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bis_Storford_FC
Forum: http://forums.footballwebpages.co.uk/forum.jsp?id=30
Local news site: http://www.hertsandessexobserver.co.uk/Sport/
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop’s_Stortford_F.C.
Podcast: http://bsfc.podbean.com/
A Load Of Cobblers 