Report by NICK SMITH

NORTHWICH Vics are hoping for a bumper crowd, buzzing with the appearance of goalkeeping great Bruce Grobbelaar, to cheer them to FA Cup victory on Saturday.

The 42-year-old triple FA Cup winner will travel to Northwich tomorrow, Thursday, and train with the squad that night, before staying locally for the 4th Qualifying Round tie with Hednesford Town.

Manager Mark Gardiner, however, is just happy to have someone between the posts for the big game, as the suspension of Lance Key created a desperate rush for a replacement.

He said: "I'd been trying for two days to get a keeper and it was nearly impossible because no clubs want their keepers to be cup-tied and the players don't want to be cup-tied.

"John Gann hasn't started in the first team, so I was hitting too many brick walls and it was becoming a headache.

"John Williams and the chairman got in touch with Bruce and from there it just snowballed."

Absence could still hamper Vics on the day as Val Owen, Mark Devlin and Stuart Terry are all doubtful after picking up knocks in the 2-2 draw at Sutton on Saturday.

Gardiner has expressed his delight that another big capture, striker Colin West, chose Vics ahead of other Conference sides, particularly Kettering, who offered substantially higher wages.

West made his debut at Sutton and is set to lead the line against Hednesford.

"Three other clubs wanted him, so it took a long time to tidy up and a lot of hard work," said Gardiner. "Several London teams were after him and it would have been easier for him to say yes to them.

"Hopefully, it's because we will be more successful and higher up the league than the others. He was offered more money so I like the fact that he's chosen to play for us.

"I felt I needed something up front and his experience will prove valuable."

At this stage, it's difficult for Vics to predict whether Grobbelaar's appearance will substantially boost the gate, but as the match has been billed as the tie of the round, chairman Rod Stitch is hoping for a higher attendance than last Saturday's Conference prequel.

"It's hard to say. We got 1,300 for the league game, and we would hope to get similar numbers and possibly a few more from Hednesford," he said.

"It's hard to know what the appearance of Bruce will put on the gate but there is a lot of interest. I would expect at least 1,500 or 1,600, with it being the FA Cup and given our recent run."

Stitch will hold a 'fans forum' meeting with the Supporters Association in the social club tonight, Wednesday, starting at 8.30pm.

THE Drill Field became an international venue again on Saturday when the Swiss national squad trained there for their Euro 2000 qualifier with Wales.

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