November 2010

If the team from the Wirral go on and lift the silverware at Wembley, they will be the first side ever to win a competition after getting knocked out in the first round!

Rovers are relishing their second bite of the cherry after initially being beaten by Accrington Stanley back in August.

But when their conquerors pleaded guilty to a charge of fielding a suspended player, Rovers were invited to come back into the draw and they haven’t looked back since.

As they prepare for the tough fixture against Huddersfield Town on Tuesday, Parry is hoping to get his name on a Question of Sport.

“It seems that if we were to win the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy then we’d be in the pub quiz books forever!

“Some people don’t like to look ahead but I do. I will be telling the players that we are playing for that carrot of a cup final appearance and a trophy win.

“I have watched Huddersfield a few times and they are a decent side. They have strength in depth and when you look at the sides that they have fielded in the trophy then you can see that they are taking it extremely seriously too.”

Parry’s face around the corridors of Prenton Park has been a familiar one for many years, initially plying his trade for different managers as a physiotherapist.

He was on the magic sponge duties when Rovers last went to Wembley in 1999 as League Cup finalists against Leicester City.

He added: “It would be massive to get there again. Last time we took 35,000 fans and if we were lucky enough to get there again, we’d take a similar number. The Wirral would be completely empty.

“It was the only time I was glad a player got an injury as it meant I could run onto the Wembley pitch to give them some treatment!”

Parry said that winning in the second round of the competition on penalties (Stockport County) had given his side a boost and he hoped to continue biting on that second Johnstone’s Paint cherry come Tuesday night.

“We have taken this competition seriously since day one and realistically, we won’t get a better opportunity to play at Wembley so we want to make the most of this chance.”

Johnstone’s. Bringing colour to the beautiful game.