Stones Roll With It For Top Billing

Bobby gets his tactics just right to earn semi-final spot

- Matt Badcock

INSPIRING pictures and motivational speeches from a Hollywood actor – Wealdstone got their preparation spot-on to reach the FA Trophy semifinals last Saturday.

The National League South side went to Billericay Town’s ‘Lions Den’ in the quarters but weren’t cowed by the artwork in the tunnel that promises them a stormy afternoon.

In fact Bobby Wilkinson’s Stones showed their league status and blew the big-spending Bostik Premier side away 5-2, led by debutant Bradley Bubb’s hat-trick.

And the victory was set in motion before a ball was even kicked.

“I had big photos printed on A4 and put them on the walls,” Wilkinson, who replaced Stones; legendary manager Gordon Bartlett in August after eight hugely successful years at Hungerford Town, says. “So when you walked into the changing room, you weren’t thinking about Billericay but looking at photographs of the players scoring goals, celebrating goals, the fans so you could see their passion.

Mindset