As an impartial visitor to Villa Park for the FA Trophy final, I have to say soccer was the winner.  A good game, a great facility, well-organised, the weather smiled on all 14,265 supporters.
    I was in the Doug Ellis stand with Burscough supporters and their behaviour was exemplary.  What was also pleasing was to see the many families there - a thing long gone in the professional game, with high ticket costs and fears of violence.  Their team did the Burscough fans proud.  The long-odds outsiders were well prepared by Shaun Teale and his staff and tactically superior to Tamworth, who I felt were a a major disappointment on the day.
    Two excellent goals, the first a candidate for any "goal of the month", Mark Cooper's error punished in brilliant fashion, a lovely weighted ball by Lawless, a decoy run by Peter Wright, and an excellent finish by Gary Martindale.  With the usually excellent Tamworth midfield not firing on the big day, the writing was soon on the wall and stout defending for the last 15 minutes made sure it would be Burscough's day - and deservedly so.  As a side, they were totally underestimated, easy to back to win, and Martindale landed lots of pre-game wagers at 7-1 to score the first goal.
    After Burscough had got there the hard way, disposing of Yeovil Town, who could deny them their day?  Certainly not me.  Non-League soccer was the winner on a really superb afternoon.

Letter from Mike Kelly, Kings Heath, Birmingham
To "The Non-League Paper", 25th May 2003
 
 

    The FA Trophy has never seen such an unlikely winner - and the small town of Burscough was today still waking up to the realisation that their football team has won one of non-league's major trophies.  The club who finished 18th in the Unibond Premier Division had never passed the third round before, and the thought that player/manager Shaun Teale should triumph at the home of one of his former clubs Aston Villa was just as unbelievable as Burscough becoming the only team to win at Yeovil Town this season.
    Teale adopted the same game plan  for yesterday's final as he did for the 2-0 quarter-final success at the Nationwide Conference champions - a side who remained unbeaten at home while romping their way to promotion to the Third Division.  Yeovil couldn't break down Teale's well-marshalled defence that day and the same game plan worked a treat as the rank outsiders followed up the shock result of the non-league season by claiming its second biggest prize.  Tamworth, already crowned champuions of the Dr Martens League, were expected to complete a memorable double, but just like Gary Johnson's impressive Glovers they foundered on a rock-like defence marshalled by Teale who was determined to enjoy a winning return to Villa Park where he spent the best years of his playing career.
    The Lambs own approach to the final was obvious with the inclusion of former Preston North End striker Mark Sale in the line-up.  The 6ft 5in forward was supposed to win the aerial war but he was beaten so often by Teale and Joe Taylor that manager Darron Gee withdrew him 10 minutes into the second half.  By that time the Unibond Leaguers were 2-0 up and well on the way to by far the greatest triumph in their club's 57-year history thanks to two goals from veteran striker Gary Martindale.  Even though Tamworth pulled a goal back through skipper Mark Cooper with 11 minutes left, they never lookedcapable of again breaching the Burscough defence to take the final into extra time.
    It had all looked so promising for the Lambs in the beginning as they enjoyed the lion's share of possession in the opening half-hour.  With less than two minutes gone, their England semi-professional striker Scott Rickards headed just over from six yards out.  Other opportunities soon followed with Richard Follett having a drive deflected just wide before their best chance of the half arrived on seven minutes.  Dave Robinson cut in from the right flank and his shot squirmed through the legs of Matty Taylor, catching the keeper's right ankle to divert into the side-netting.
 Paul Burns then earned himself a lecture from referee Uriah Rennie after clattering into Ricketts on the quarter-hour mark.  Shortly afterwards Robinson decided to dish out some rough justice by scything down the former Morecambe man with the Tamworth player receiving the first of three yellow cards of the game.  Burns continued to search and destroy any forward moves while another Linnets midfielder created the 25th minute goal that punctured the Midlanders' early confidence.
    John Lawles seized possession just inside the opposing half and charged past a defender.  Martindale and Peter Wright crossed paths on the edge of the penalty area leaving Preston-born defender Steve Walsh to decide who to follow.  The 38-year old followed Wright and only realised his error when Lawless found Martindale in yards of space and it was too late to stop the clinical finish that quickly followed as the ball whizzed past keeper Darren Acton.
    Tamworth quickly tried to level with Cooper hitting a 25-yard free-kick that Taylor did well to turn over his crossbar, but from then until referee Rennie ended the first half at least 50 seconds prematurely the Linnets keeper remained mostly a spectator as his defenders maintained a closed shop.
    The start of the second half saw Teale's men willing to press forward with Ryan Bowen firing just past the post following a corner.  Lawless then showed the same initiative that led to the first goal by creating the second.  The 20-year old midfielder ran at the centre of the Tamworth defence once more and this time unleashed an effort of his own.  Acton had to dive full stretch to his left but, when the shot bobbled just in front of him, he could only push it a few yards away.  Martindale, with a wealth of Football League experience behind him, was already moving in for the kill when Lawless tried his shot and he arrived right on time to fire in the loose ball to the delight of Burscough's minority support who now began to outsing the mass of Tamworth fans occupying the Holte End.
    Cooper gave them hope of a reprieve when he arrived at the near post to convert Rob Warner's driven low cross, but even then it was Teale's side who looked the likelier scorers with Burns hitting the target inthe last minute only for his goal to be disallowed for an earlier push.  That would have completed a real slaughter of the Lambs on a day that will remain legendary in Burscough for years to come.

Still life in old legs of Linnets boss Shaun
    Burscough player/boss Shaun Teale joked that he had no legs left after leading his side to victory inthe FA Trophy final.  Then he announced he was going to get legless after his underdogs completed one of the most sensational cup wins non-league football has known.  "It takes a bit of sinking in", Teale admitted afterwards.  "That was amazing.  I have had some great times in my career - particularly with Aston Villa - but this is certainly up there with the best."
    The Linnets boss revealed that he urged his players to follow up their earlier success in winning at Yeovil Town.  He said: "The game plan worked out the same as it did at Yeovil.  We sat on the edge of the 18-yard box, dug a trench, put our tin hats on and defended.  I told the players beforehand that if they didn't go out and win today they would have wasted a fantastic result at Yeovil.  They were the best team in non-league football last season and we went there and won - something which no Conference side managed.  We also scored twice, something else that no-one else was able to do.  Once we scored against Tamworth, I nver felt that we were in trouble because that is the sort of team we are."
    One Linnets player who had particular reason to celebrate was striker John Norman who feared his playing career was over when he suffered a serious facial injury early in the season.  He said: "I fractured my left eye socket in four places in September and thought I might never play again.  I missed 13 weeks and to come back and win the FA Trophy is unbelievable.  I got to the semi-finals last year with Morecambe and I never thought I would get the chance again.  It's the pinnacle of my career."
    Midfielder Paul Burns said: "I got promotion to the Vauxhall Conference with Morecambe and I had some great times there which I will always treasure, but I just can't put into words just how good it was today.  I'll have a few sherbets tonight."

    Two-goal Gary Martindale was the hero among heroes as Burscough lifted the FA Trophy on a historic day at Villa Park.  It was third time lucky for the veteran front man after his previous two appearances at the stadium had ended in defeat for Notts County and Peterborough.  Then he was marked out of the match by Paul McGrath, but yesterday Martindale found the Tamworth back line to be far more malleable as he escaped their attentions once in each half to put the Lambs to the slaughter.
    The striker's exploits earned him the man-of-the-match award, but the judges would not have been short of candidates as every Burscough player played to the peak of their ability.  Among the stand-out performances were goalkeeper Matthew Taylor who refused to wilt under a ferocious bombardment of high ball after high ball, instead coming out again and again to clear his lines.  In fromt of him, player-manager Shaun Teale was an inspiration on the pitch as he led by example, and off it, where his experience showed in a tactical blueprint of defending deep and denying Tamworth space.  Further forward, John Lawless and Paul Burns won their midfield battles with grit and determination, while the Linnets' other striker, Peter Wright, was a constant effervescent threat all afternoon.
    However, it took Burscough until the quarter-hour mark to settle down, by which time they could have been two down.  With their fans outnumbering Burscough's by three to one, Tamworth - who put out four Conference sides en route to the final - clearly felt at home and started strongly.  First Steve Walsh headed back a corner for England semi-professional striker Scott Rickards to head over. Full-back Richard Follett then drove an effort wide from the edge of the box and teale had to throw himself full length to prevent Steve Evans pulling the trigger on another good chance.  From the resultant corner, Dave Robinson was thwarted by Taylor as his low shot was deflected into the side-netting.
    Despite struggling to get out of their own half at times, Burscough began to get to grips with Tamworth's clever passing and movement as Teale's master-plan started to take a hold on the game.  Lawless saw an acrobatic volley just clear Tamworth's crossbar on 20 minutes before he played a major role in setting up his team's first goal.  The midfielder strode forward and as Wright's imaginative run across the face of the Tamworth box caught the defenders' attention, Lawless's delayed through ball left Martindale in the clear.  Showing the composure you would expect, the striker slipped a low shot past Acton to make it 1-0.
    Almost before the celebrations had died down, the lead was almost lost when Tamworth skipper Mark Cooper sent a rocket of a free-kick soaring towards the top corner but Taylor clawed the ball out.
    After the break, Burscough were no doubt braced for an expected onslaught from the Conference-bound Lambs, but as Teale and Taylor continued to impose themselves at the back, it wa the Linnets who looked the more dangerous, with Ryan Bowen hooking a half-volley wide from a corner before they went two up.  Lawless was involved again, driving from midfield before somewhat scuffing a low shot from 25 yards out.  It seemed a comfortable save for Acton, but he spilled the ball at the feet of Martindale, whose striking instincts had got him in the right place at the right time.  He made no mistake for his second strike.
    As he used to do for Leicester City, Steve Walsh was pressed into action as an emergency centre-forward as Tamworth resorted to route one football in a desperate bid to get back into the game.  On 78 minutes, Joe Taylor slipped as he went to clear a low cross.  It was his only mistake of the day, but it allowed Cooper to prod the ball into the Burscough goal.
    The last ten minutes promised to be tense as even goalkeeper Acton popped up in Burscough's box as Tamworth desperately sought an equaliser, but showing the defensive guile and fortitude that has earned them 23 clean sheets this season and which put paid to Yeovil in an earlier round, Burscough held out for well-deserved glory.

    Burscough's FA Trophy match-winner Gary Martindale has revealed he was close to missing out on what he believes was the best day of his career.  The 31-year-old netted once in each half at Villa Park to secure the Unibond League Premier Division side victory over Tamworth of the Dr Martens League yesterday and the man-of-the-match award for himself, but it was touch and go up until the eve of the final whether he would even play after he aggravated  a long-standing thigh injury a fortnight ago.
    Martindale, who played 79 minutes, said: "I first got the injury to my thigh muscles in November and I was out for three and a half months with it.  Then two weeks ago I twaeked my thigh in training and it was a case of resting it and looking after it as best I could.  During training it kept stiffening up, so the gaffer said to me to try and get through as much of the game as I could, which is what I did."
    Of his first goal, Martindale said: "It was a great run by Peter Wright and that took the defenders away.  John Lawless then played a superb ball in that I just had to finish and I slotted it away", he recalled.  "For the second goal, I have followed in about 160 shots this season and not one of them had come out off the goalkeeper's arms, but trust it to happen in the Trophy final and for the winning goal.  I am just made up, delighted, and this is the best day in my career.  I have had a few ups and downs and did not expect to get to an FA Trophy final after losing in the quarter and semi-finals with Telford.  Now to come here and win it with Burscough is absolutely fantastic."
    Another Linnets player with reason to celebrate is John Norman, who has battled back from an horrendous eye injury to win the Trophy.  After being injured in a clash of heads  against Marine in September, he did not know if he was going to keep the sight in his left eye, let alone play football again.  He said: "That was probably the lowest time of my life, let alone in football.  I almost lost my eyesight through playing the game I love.  I was out for 13 weeks and when I came back, I still didn't know how I was going to feel, but to win the Trophy now is just amazing.  The lads are looking at each other in the changing rooms and they are all dumbfounded.  This is the pinnacle of my career."  A self-employed painter and decorator, Norman added that he will be giving himself today off.  "I don't think there's anything wrong with that after a day like this," he laughed.

    Linnets' midfielder Paul Burns revealed he had retired from football at the start of this Trophy-winning season.  The 35-year-old quit the game after what he thought was a final season with Accrington Stanley in summer 2002.  "When this season started I didn't miss football at all, but by September I was missing it like crazy," he remembered.  "I got the call to come back into the game and the rest is history.  I won promotion to the Conference with Morecambe and had some great times there, but this is the pinnacle for me."
    Tamworth boss Darron Gee confessed Burscough had deserved their victory.  "They made it very hard for us by closing us down and working us around, so fair play to Tealey," he said. "Burscough worked hard for each other, the front two were lively and they took their chances well.  The first goal was a good move and then to concede so soon after half-time is every manager's nightmare."

    Not since 1979 has a Northern Premier League club won the FA Trophy so on 18th May 2003 the league was fully behind Burscough in their quest for a place in league & FA Trophy history as they took on Southern League Champions Tamworth.
    Supporters travelling down the M6 must have been expecting to witness a final affected by heavy rain and wind but on the approach to Villa Park the sun began to shine and as the players walked onto the famous Aston Villa turf conditions for playing and watching were almost ideal. The Tamworth team were greeted by a mass of over 10,000 supporters producing a sea of red at the famous Holt End. Burscough in comparison were heavily outnumbered but when 25% of the towns 8000 population have travelled the 100 or so miles to Villa Park the Linnets were not short of vocal support.  As both teams were introduced to guest of honour Martin Peters the stage was set for what was to be an eventful afternoon.
    From the start Tamworth looked full of confidence and did most of the attacking, Matthew Taylor in the Burscough goal was up to anything in his area, confident in coming for the crosses, first class in position and shot stopping. As the game progressed there was a feeling that Tamworth may just be on one of those days when their forward play was going to be frustrated by a resolute defence. Burscough, well marshalled by player-manager Shaun Teale, began to show some excellent mid-field passing and on the 25th minute in a move that would grace any final, Peter Wright made a run taking two defenders to leave Gary Martindale the space to put the Linnets into the lead. The sea of red behind the goal was stunned into silence but to the credit of the Tamworth support a roar erupted to encourage their team to press for the equalizer. Burscough were not going let their advantage slip easily and when referee Uriah Rennie blew what must have been a good minute early the scene was set for a momentous second half.
    Now attacking the Holt End, Tamworth must have felt that it would just be a matter of time before their first goal would nullify the Burscough advantage. With their enthusiastic support now at full volume a succession of high balls tested the Burscough keeper but Taylor continued in his brilliant form, never fearful of leaving his line to clear the menacing crosses. Burscough were still looking dangerous however and on the 56th minute Martindale doubled his tally by taking advantage of a slip up by the Tamworth keeper who could not hold a Lawless shot.
    It is well said in football circles that 2-0 is a dangerous scoreline and with Tamworth pushing more players forward their break came in the 79th minute. A mass of goalmouth activity was followed by a low cross which Mark Cooper met to slip the ball over the line. The game was poised for a pulsating finish. As the clock ticked down it was Burscough who had the first real chance when Peter Wright hit the side netting when on other afternoons he would have converted the opportunity. When four minutes lit up on the fourth officials board Tamworth knew they needed to push even more players forward. Burscough on several occasions could only clear the ball from their area to return possession to their opponents. On the 4th minute of overtime Tamworth were awarded a corner kick which everyone knew was their last chance to save the game. Burscough still resolute knew the referees whistle would certainly blow if they could clear their lines. This they did and when referee Rennie blew for the end of a fantastic final it was met with jubilation by the Burscough team and supporters.
    Celebrations could now start for the Linnets and with the trophy being handed over by Martin Peters you could sense that the team from the West Lancashire village were going to enjoy their success well into the night. The Tamworth supporters were excellent in defeat and credit should be given as hardly anyone left the stadium before giving both teams the richly deserved applause. As for Burscough supporters, I suspect there were a few sore throats and bad heads Monday morning.
 
 

    I asked Stan Strickland, Secretary of Burscough, for some info on the teams post match celebrations. I decided to publish Stans reply unedited...need I say more....
    “The question I have been asked most often since we returned home with the FA Trophy is: ‘How the hell do we follow that?’ I must admit that, for once, I haven’t got an answer. The sheer scale of what we have achieved only really sank in when we returned home to Burscough late Sunday night and saw the scenes outside and inside the ground. We were all open-mouthed with amazement at the sight of almost 2,000 people waiting to welcome us. We had been met outside the village by a police escort and didn’t fully appreciate why until we turned into Mart Lane and saw the mass of people lining the street. It took us twenty minutes to cover the last thirty yards to the ground so the players could properly display the Trophy around Victoria Park. They were images that will remain with me forever.
    "For a village of our size to reach the FA Trophy Final and go on to win such a major national competition, after playing twelve games along the way, must rank up there with some of the greatest achievements of all-time in English football. We took a quarter of the village with us and what a joyful sight they looked beneath the Burscough flag flying high above them in the Doug Ellis Stand. The atmosphere at Villa Park was incredible and it would be wrong not to pay tribute to the marvellous Tamworth supporters who turned out in such large numbers and made such a massive contribution to making the day a truly memorable occasion.
    "I am absolutely delighted for Shaun. He has worked miracles this season and to see him struggling to control his emotions after the game showed just how much it all meant to him. Winning the FA Trophy is the culmination of a quite incredible ten years at the club which has seen three promotions and it was fitting that just about everyone who has played a part in this phenomenal success story was at Villa Park to witness Burscough Football Club’s finest hour.”

    So dreams really do come true, and Burscough, 400-1 at the outset to lift the FA Trophy, are basking in the greatest day in their history, and the most satisfying thing about Sunday's incredible victory was that Shaun Teale and his lads deserved it.  Nothing flukey, giant-killers on merit, a triumph for organisation.
    As has been the case throughout almost the entire competition, it was based on resilience in defence, plus a tremendous outfield effort which left Dr Martens Premier League champions Tamworth devoid of ideas as early as the 20th minute.  Once Scott Rickards had headed over an early chance for Tamworth, Richard Follett had riped a 20-yarder wide and Dave Robinson had squandered a great opening, there was a feeling that this might be the day of the Unibond side, Yeovil re-written.
    The on 26 minutes, the unbelievable happened as the Linnets took the lead with a superbly worked goal created by John Lawless.  As Lawless played the ball in, Peter Wright made a decoy run taking central defender Dave Robinson with him.  In a flash, the goal opened up for on-running Gary Martindale who side-footed past keeper Darren Acton, right in front of the massed Tamworth support.  And from 200 Burscough throats: "You're not singing any more."
    Before half-time, Tamworth's Steve Evans rifled in a free-kick which Matty Taylor managed to turn over the top. Just after the interval Ryan Bowen blazed narrowly wide from Lawless's corner then on 54 minutes came what proved the decisive moment.  Again, Lawless was the creator.  From the moment he received the ball inside the Tamworth half, his intent was obvious, to go for goal himself.  Ignoring Martindale on his right, Lawless slammed in a shot from 20 yards which Acton should have collected, but he spilled it and Martindale, running in, blasted the ball under the keeper's body.  "I bet I've followed 100 of those in this season but that's the first one that's come out to me," he said later.
    Carl Macauley running down the right flank produced a cross-cum-shot which Acton turned over, but on 77 minutes, following a slip on the wet surface by Joe Taylor, Mark Cooper nipped in to flick the ball home and set the scene for a tense 13 minutes, plus four minutes of time added on.  It was Burscough who came closest in that period when Wright turned brilliantly in the box but fired into the side-netting.

    Shaun Teale enjoyed a happy Villa Park return as his Burscough side upset the form book to carry home the FA Trophy for the first time in the club's history.  The former Villa centre-half ended his first full season in management by helping the Unibond League Premier Division side defy odds of 400-1 to win the competition at the outset and beat favourites Tamworth 2-1 in yesterday's final.  Teale, 39, was in charge of a greengrocer's when he was first approached to become player-
manager of Burscough, which is little more than a village in West Lancashire.  Nevertheless, half the population of 8,500 travelled down the M6 to witness the Linnets' finest hour.
    Gary Martindale did the damage against a Tamworth side that was hoping to add the Trophy to the Dr Martens League Premier Division title they collected last month.  The former Notts County forward kept his cool in the 25th minute following a smart decoy run from strike-partner Peter Wright to slot home.  And then he added a second after keeper Darren Acton spilled John Lawless' left-foot drive.  Tamworth's Mark Cooper flicked home at the near post in the 80th minute to set up a nervy finish.
 
 

    The opportunity to complete the most successful season in Tamworth FC's history slipped away after an emotion-filled FA Trophy final at Villa Park.  Darron Gee's Dr Martens League champions were humbled in non-league football's showpiece occasion by the minnows from Merseyside.  Gary Martindale's brace broke the hearts of the 12,000 Tamworth supporters and left Gee's batttling side ruing what might have been.
    The Lambs were bidding to complete the league and cup double and become the first side to win both the FA's top non-league competitions - the Vase which they won in 1989, and the Trophy.  But tiny Burscough, whose entire population is only two-thirds of the Tamworth contingent at Villa Park, hadn't read the script and there was to be no repeat of those memorable scenes from 14 years ago.
    Even after Lambs captain Mark Cooper snatched a goal with 11 minutes to go to set up what should have been a barn-storming climax, Burscough, led by player-manager Shaun Teale, repelled all Tamworth's efforts to snatch an equaliser which would have forced the game into extra time.......

    Tamworth were the overwhelming pre-match favourites and began the game as though they were determined to dispatch their opponents early.......... two early opportunities turned out to be key moments.  If Tamworth had grabbed at least one or possibly two goals while Burscough were half-asleep, they could have had a much more comfortable afternoon.  But Teale seemed to realise where the Tamworth dangers lay and the Linnets moved to nullify them.  Rickards in particular was a threat and he came in for some hefty attention from the rugged Burscough defence.  One tackle in the 13th minute left him in a crumpled heap and after lengthy treatment he never posed the same danger again.  The early Tamworth charge began to fizzle out as Burscough weathered the storm.  Teale would later admit that their tactic was to almost dig a trench on the edge of the penalty box and soak up whatever Tamworth had to offer.  They knew the Lambs were a threat if they managed to play their way behind the Burscough defence and there was no way past for wingers Nick Colley and Evans.
    At this point the game was in the balance with Tamworth probably just shading it with Rob Warner hammering in an effort from long range.  The Lambs defence had hardly been tested but they were carved open by a good move in the 26th minute.  John Lawless picked up the ball deep in midfield after McGorry had been caught out by a Cooper pass and played it in for the lively Peter Wright, but the pass was too far behind him and Wright could not collect - but neither could Robinson or Walsh who were left stranded.  The route to goal suddenly opened up for Martindale and he raced through to slip the ball past Darren Acton.
    The goal stunned Tamworth and Villa Park fell silent, except for the celebrations of the Burscough contingent who numbered around 2000, a quarter of the population of the village.........

    Uriah Rennie blew for half-time 50 seconds early.  Three times the physios were called on to the field but not only did Rennie not add on any injury time, he blew up early.  Gee raced back to the changing room to inspire his troops for a second half onslaught but the concerted Lambs effort never materialised.  Rickards threatened in the 54th minute with a run and shot that fizzed across goal and just beyond Sale but 60 seconds later Tamworth were rocked again.  The defence backed off Lawless and he fired in a speculative shot from long range.  It looked comfortable for Acton but dipped just in front of him and he spilled it to Martindale who was the only player alive to the rebound and fired home his second goal of the afternoon.
    It was now an uphill struggle for Tamworth and the second goal proved to be the killer. The Lambs' fans seemed to sense it as well and they fell silent......

    Cooper finally grabbed a lifeline in the 79th minute when Follett played a cross into the far post and the midfielder stretched out a leg, flicking the ball past Taylor.  Teale tried to hack the ball off the line but only managed to hammer the ball into the roof of the net.  The goal should have set up a barn-storming finish with Tamworth piling on the pressure and Walsh joined the attack.  But the efforts of the last ten months suddenly seemed to catch up the players, several of whom had not played much football in the past few weeks, and they seemed to lack the physical strength to really pressurise Burscough.  They pumped ball after ball into the box but Teale and Joe Taylor, brother of the Linnets' keeper, headed away every danger.
    Tamworth seemed unable to do anything different and Burscough held on to the final whistle.  The players slumped to the earth in dejection as Burscough celebrated with their small following.  On paper Tamworth should have won, they should have had too much for Burscough, and they should have rewarded the superb support with the Trophy.  But football isn't played on paper and on the day Teale got his tactics spot-on.

    Ask any Villa Park regular and they'll tell you it's never safe to return to a scene of former glories, but Shaun Teale is no Graham Taylor - in his case, "turnip" should read "triumphant", even though he did run a greengrocer's shop before joining Burscough in the close season.  Teale spent four seasons with Villa after arriving from Bournemouth for £300,000.  He formed a defensive partnership with the legendary Paul McGrath, winning the League Cup in 1994 and helping steer the Midlanders to a Premiership runners-up spot.  Ten tears ago, his name was even mentioned in despatches for a place in Taylor's England team.
    However, those achievements have almost been eclipsed by his first managerial triumph last weekend. "When you put it into context, this easily ranks alongside everything else I've achieved in my professional playing career," he said.  "To do it at Villa Park made it extra special, but to win a competition like the Trophy on Burscough's resources is an incredible achievement."
    Therein lies the problem, and the root of a thorny dilemma that Teale must resolve in the coming weeks.  Burscough have had their 15 minutes - and more - of fame and next season they merge back into the Unibond Premier scene, their day at Villa Park more than a footnote to history.  Teale is already expecting four of his squad to make summer moves, while the club's Victoria Park home is not capable of staging Conference football, even if Burscough added the title to the Trophy next season.
    "I'd be lying if I said it was not a problem," he admits.  "Expectation levels will dramatically rise because of the Trophy win but there is nowhere the club can really go.  In a sense we are playing league matches for nothing - the only thing we need to do is avoid relegation because we can't be promoted.  I expect some of the team to leave but I can't stand in their way.  I'm a footballer and I know it's important to better yourself.  I've got another year on my contract here, but I need to sit down and talk with the committee about the future and see how we can improve.  I don't want to stand still, I want to fast-track myself.  I'd like to think the Trophy run would generate some interest and I'd obviously like to get back into the Football League.  I also want to be my own man."
    Teale was spotted deep in conversation with new Weymouth chairman Ian Ridley at Villa Park, prompting speculation that he was the front-runner for the vacant position at the Wessex Stadium.  The Burscough boss began his career with the Terras before a £50,000 transfer to Bournemouth in January 1989, and Ridley has made no secret of the fact that he aims to take his home-town side into the Football League.
    Wherever Teale begins the new season, he admits his playing days are almost numbered. "My plan is to keep playing but I know you can learn a lot more about your players by watching them," he adds.  "When I feel that age is catching up with me, I will retire but I'm fine at the moment."
    Teale is rightly heralded by his team-mates and club officials as the talisman for a remarkable season, but Lady Luck also played her role in last weekend's victory.  Teale's side made their home in Villa Park's away dressing room last Sunday - continuing a winning run that started with Canvey Island in 2001.
 
 

    Burscough's two-goal hero Gary Martindale was just hours away from missing a place in the Villa Park final.  The 31-year-old suffered a recurrence of a thigh injury, which had sidelined him for three months at Christmas, just two weeks before the club's biggest game in their 57-year history.  Martindale, who was unable to sprint or strike a ball in the week leading up to the final, was forced to take a series of anti-inflammatory tablets and pain-killers hours before kick-off.
    "I first picked up the thigh injury in November and missed more than three months," said Martindale.  "Two weeks ago, I tweaked the thigh again in training.  I was worried about missing the Trophy final, but I rested the injury as best I could.  I was struggling to sprint or strike the ball properly in training and the leg kept stiffening up without warning.  Shaun asked me to get through as much of the game as I could, but in the second half I was really beginning to struggle."  Martindale limped out of the action on 79 minutes, but the former Notts County striker had already delivered the double knock-out blow.
    The veteran striker described his Villa park heroics as "the greatest moment of my football career.  John Lawless looked set to put peter Wright in on goal but instead played a beautiful reverse pass through to me and things just opened up," added Martindale.  "For the second goal, I'd followed in about 160 shots this season and not one had rebounded to me off the keeper.  If I'm being honest, I was standing there shaking my head and cursing John Lawless for not passing, then his shot ricocheted to me for the winning goal.  If I never play another game of football again, I'll have a very proud moment to remember in my career.  After losing in the quarter-final and the semi-final with Telford I never thought I'd get to a Trophy final, let alone win the competition.  This is an absolutely unbelievable feeling.  I don't know whether it can get any better."
    Martindale reserved special praise for his evergreen manager Teale who delivered a "moving" half-time speech which inspired Burscough to an unlikely 2-1 win.  "I remember it clearly. Shaun said 'This is Yeovil all over again.  Even if we have to dig a trench on our 18-yard line and defend, we will not get beaten'," he said.  "It was brilliant and really inspired us to go out there and finish the job.  Shaun's been outstanding this season and I thought he had a great game in the final.  He's got such a presence on the pitch and around the club.  If you didn't know his age, you'd guess he was 25 and not 39.  He's such a solid defender, who won't let a striker get a kick all game and I'm just pleased I play alongside him rather than against him."
 
 

    Frank Parr had to pinch himself to make sure he was not dreaming as his home-town club took a walk in a Trophy wonderland.  Proudly wearing his green club tie, club chairman Parr jigged around the Villa Park directors' box with little care for protocol, and there were tears in his eyes when manager Shaun Teale and skipper Carl Macauley lifted the Trophy.
    More than 57 years after he became a founding member of the village club, his hard work and loyal service had been rewarded in 90 unforgettable minutes.  "This is top of the list, a wonderful achievement for a club like Burscough," said Parr.  "I've been here so long but this will never be beaten, it's an absolutely magical feeling."
    Parr, who missed only a handful of games since he took over as chairman in 1974, claims he never had any doubts that Burscough would win.  "We've been underdogs a few times this season and we've always come out on top.  What do the bookmakers matter anyway?"
    Burscough's success has certainly caught the imagination of the village they call home.  When the team arrived back on Sunday evening they needed a police escort to navigate a thromg of 2000 supporters who'd stayed up late to cheer.  Parr has played a crucial role in match-winner Gary Martindale's career, signing him as a teenager and then masterminding his move into the Football League with Bolton Wanderers nine years ago.  "They can give Gary what he wants now - freedom of the village if he likes," said Parr.  "I signed him as a 19-year-old and he's just a nice bloke and well-respected by everyone.  He certainly deserves this moment."
    However, Parr knows that fame can be a double-edged sword, with rumours beginning to circulate about some of Burscough's prize assets, especially the manager.  "We want to keep hold of this squad, but we need to be realistic," he adds.  "Winning has helped our finances, but we are still a small club and there is not a lot of money around.  Shaun deserves so much credit and he still has another year to run on his contract.  We owe him so much and, if a bigger club came in for him, we would not stand in his way."
 
 

    With his shoulders slumping with fatigue and his tie-up languishing half-way down his shin, Burscough's Joe Taylor launched himself at yet another rocket heading for Tamworth's beanpole striker Mark Sale.  Centre-half Taylor, no midget himself at 6ft 2in, won that contest - and every other aerial battle of the afternoon - while keeping his composure to spray the odd diagonal pass out to the left wing.
    FA Trophy final?  Dr Martens champions?  The 23-year-old rookie must have wondered what all this fuss was about at the end of his first season as a semi-pro.  If it wasn't for his manager and defensive partner Shaun Teale returning to Villa Park and ex-Notts County striker Gary Martindale hitting both the goals, Taylor would have walked away with the man-of-the-match award.
    A year ago, he was finishing a history degree at Nottingham University before captaining a British Universities' development squad on a tour of Libya.  He returned to the north-west after three years away and decided to have a crack at Non-League, though when he first went training with kid brother Matt - who also performed so commandingly in goal last week - the first team was far from his thoughts.  "I didn't think I'd get much of a chance with Shaun Teale being the player-manager and obviously playing centre-half, but he gave me an opportunity and I've stayed in ever since," says the man Teale soon expects to lose to prowling Football League clubs.  "My ambition is to play at the highest level I can, be that Conference, Football League, whatever.  It's just a case of continuing to play as well as I can for Burscough and see what comes of it."
    From the neighbouring village of Parbold, the Taylor brothers know more than most what Trophy success means to the community.  All of their early education was in Burscough - and it was at primary school that they last played together.  Joe says: "I've watched Matt's progress from getting in the first team at 18 and he's a highly-rated keeper.  He had an excellent game on Sunday.  We haven't played in the same football team since I was 11 at primary school.  We got back to Burscough  at 10 o'clock and there were 2000 people at the ground.  A lot of the lads were in shock, it was something we never expected."
 
 

Please pass my congratulations to everyone connected with Burscough FC on winning the FA Trophy at Villa Park on Sunday.  As a Tamworth supporter I am obviously disappointed but firmly believe the best team won on the day.  Burscough looked as though they wanted it more and deservedly lifted the Trophy.
We simply did not perform as we have done all season and seemed to lack in ideas when it mattered.  I hope we showed from the reception the Burscough team received when lifting the Trophy that my sentiments are echoed by all Tamworth supporters in attendance.
I would like to congratulate you all once again and wish you every success for the new league season and in defending the Trophy - who knows, we may meet again along the way!
Enjoy your celebrations

Glenn Coley (Tamworth fan)

I am writing to offer my congratulations on Burscough winning the FA Trophy.
It was a brilliant game and well done to ALL the players for showing how to play ""proper footy"".
I am a BURY FC (Shakers) supporter - albeit through ill-health I am unable to attend any games - I still renew my season ticket membership and I wish our players would play like Burscough.
Once again:
CONGRATULATIONS TO ONE AND ALL AT BURSCOUGH.

Regards
Mrs Maria Hurst.

Congratulations, Burscough will be famous all over the North West this week.

From Mrs Agnes (nee Clarkson, ex Chapel Lane) Loker. Exiled in Oldham.

I should just like to offer my congratulations on your fine victory on
Sunday.  Not only did you beat Tamworth but you did it by playing "proper football" a
joy to watch rather than the 'route half' football (route 1 would make it sound good) played by Tamworth.
It is a shame we did not play you in the final then Sky could have had a
really good advert for the non - league game.  Perhaps next season?
Well done!!

Clive Ellam
Havant and Waterlooville season ticket holder.

To Everybody At Burscough FC
Just to say well done in yesterdays game in winning the FA Trophy. Good luck for the future.
From Everybody at Stocksbridge Park Steels FC
Thanks
Daniel Keeton (SPSFC)

To Everyone at BURSCOUGH FC - F.A. TROPHY WINNERS - 2003
From all of the staff at Witton Albion F.C. Well Done on your tremendous victory at Villa Park.
Special mention to Frank & Stan, after your many years at the club you must be absolutely ecstatic and quite rightly.
Nice also to see one of our favourite "old boys" CARL MACAULEY skippering the Linnets to this great success.

Well done for your magnificent achievement in winning the FA Trophy. Hopefully this can boost the hopes of all 'smaller' clubs.

Peter Dale

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Burscough were brilliant. I went to the semi-final and was cheering you on on Sunday with a couple of fellow Marine fans from the comfort of my living room. What Shaun and everyone connnected at the club have achieved cannot be underestimated. You have made history and done the Unibond League proud. I now have to consider the concept of predestination more seriously because, had it not rained at Marine in the first round replay with just ten minutes left, then the ball wouldn't have been slippery and our reserve keeper, Chris Conneally, may not have let it slip through his hands (even my cat could have saved it!). I turned to a Marine fan and said "Burscough will go on to win the cup, now." The rest is history. Look forward to playing you next season. Brilliant!

Barry Lenton (Vice-President, Marine FC).

Well done , you did the Unibond proud . Best wishes to all your players, management, and supporters. WELL DONE !!!  See you next year.

Nig, Radcliffe

CONGRATULATIONS ON A FANTASTIC VICTORY!!!!!!!
PLEASE WILL YOU FORWARD MY CONGRATULATIONS ON TO SEAN TEALE,WHO MIGHT REMEMBER ME FROM THE 12TH SOUTHPORT BOYS BRIGADE UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF JIM McGUINNESS.........WELL DONE SEAN,ALL THE BEST (FRAZZ-CRAIG FARRELL)

Congratulations on winning the F.A.Trophy today. It was a thoroughly convincing performance and may you go on to win bigger and better things.Well done!!!

Dave Woodbridge (Wycombe Wanderers Supporter)

Well done a terrific cup final performance.
I was there to witness it courtesy of some tickets from my club as I live in Birmingham and was closest to Villa Park.  Nice to see Shaun Teale back at the stadium and what a superb performance!
Thought his number 5 and also Martindale and Wright were also excellent.
All the best for next season

Paul O'Reilly (Weymouth FC)
 
 

What a stunning performance by your boys on Sunday - it restored my dwindling faith in the beautiful game which has become dominated by clubs with money and influence, to the detriment of all that is good in football. Burscough played with a spirit and belief that demonstrated what football SHOULD be about.
I applaud your achievement, which is nothing short of phenomenal and which will go down as one of the greatest examples of the "minnows" triumphant against ALL the odds, proving how enthralling the game of football CAN be, when everybody has an even chance, rather than the boring, repetitive, procession that the Premier League has now become.
I take my hat off to everyone in any way connected with Burscough FC - you were all amazing - well done.

PNE Fan
 

Just thought I'd add my contribution and say 'Congratulations' on your FA Trophy win last week. Excellent stuff. You've done yourselves and the Unibond proud.
I must be honest and admit that I didn't think you'd get past Yeovil, but you did. I didn't think you'd beat Tamworth, but again, you proved what a crap pundit I'd be!
Hope you all enjoyed your day out at Villa Park.
WELL DONE, LINNETS, AND ALL THE BEST FOR NEXT SEASON (That is, except when you play us, of course....)

Derek, Barrow supporter
 

WELL DONE, from another trophy winning fan of NORTHWICH VICS, you deserve it. WE COULD NOT BEAT YEOVIL

I know its nearly 3 days since you beat us in the Final (only just coming to terms with it). I would like to say well done, you thoroughly deserved to win it. No complaints from us, and well done to your fans who were completely outnumbered, although you wouldn't have thought so, they were brill.

Big John (Tamworth FC)

Well done lads on your cup win, its great to see a smaller club win it, you were much the better side.  Kingstonian are going though a bad time with all our money problems, your win gives us hope, well done Burscough.

Crimble, Kingstonian

Congratulations on a brilliant victory over Tamworth,you have done yourself`s proud. All the very best for next season. From a Barrow AFC supporter
Terry Kendall

If you play that well in the Premier you will be Conference bound
Worksop fan

Well done to all at Burscough F C, watched the match on sky and really enjoyed it, shouted for you all the way. Brought back memories of 1990 and Wembley when we won the Trophy, enjoy it you all deserve it.
Yours in sport,  Jim Bull Barrow fan

Well done from all at Macclesfield Town FC. Superb result!
 

Well done excellent result yesterday gives the unibond a great name, there was 14,265 at the match yesterday, how many were Burscough fans? how come you only get 120+ at your home matches?
Whitby Lad

From all at Skelmersdale United Football Club, congratulations on a superb achievement. What you have done for non-league football at your level and below is extraordinary. You have given small clubs like ourselves the appetite to go on and achieve the unachievable.
 

Got to say it - Sunday was absolutely fantastic! Spent 3/4 of my 30 years living in Ormskirk (dont hold that against me Burscough people!) to see the little local club coming from where they were 10 years ago to such prominence is outstanding.
And to do it against the team from the town where I now live is even better - I aint half going to enjoy going back to work tomorrow...
Congrats again to Shaun and the lads - I will be at Victoria Park next season!

Mikey
Linnet in Tamworth
 

Congratulations from a Barnet fan, im sure I speak for most of our fans when I say how well you came out of yesterdays game. A real victory for the underdog. Don't suppose anyone had a bet at 100-1 did they?

JCC, Barnet
 

Just want to say well done and congratulations nice to know us smaller clubs can put one over the big guys.keep it up and roll on next season. cheers

Simon Wade, Taunton fan
 

Well done to all involved at the club.
All the best from Stalybridge Celtic
 

Many congratulations to Shaun and the lads from Villa fans everywhere. Despite Tamworth's close proximity, the fact big Shaun was on your side and ex bluenose Mark Cooper on theirs made this the result we wanted.
He's a top man is Mr Teale: A hard working but limited centre half who became one of the best in the Premiership under the expert tutelage of the one and only Paul McGrath.
He's clearly put everything he's learned into management.
The only downside for you is that I think he may be under demand now from conference or even div 3 sides after this phenomenal result. Best of luck in the future to everybody at Burscough.

Rotterdam82

PS Hope you enjoyed our ground.
 

To all the fans and players, i was flicking through sky yesterday and noticed the fa trophy final and realised Burscough were in it. I then remembered that one of our former players, Jamesy Morton is on your books (although not involved yesterday) and so decided to watch the game. It was a fantastic game and from what i gather a fantastic achievement for a small town village club. Crusaders, although from belfast, are also a relatively small club with not much money compared to the other big clubs in Northern Ireland such as Linfield so i was very happy to see the underdogs coming out on top. Once again, many congrats. Now that I've checked out your website you can check out ours crudadersfc.com !!

Ray Coleman
Crusaders FC
 

Congratulations on your trophy win yesterday. Watched it on TV and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Hope you get more success in the league next season.

A Brewer
Burton Albion FC

Congratulations on the win! See you next season.
Elaine (Lancaster City FC)

Well done on your Trophy win!
Nice to see Vics old boy Shaun Teale doing the biz down at your place.
Here in Northwich, our team (who also play in Green and White) move into our brand new Stadium at the end of next season. It's name: Victoria Park.
Let's hope the omens keep on coming!
Good luck in the Unibond next season and well done!
ENJOY!!!!

Trickafarian (Northwich Vics FC)
 

Just wanted to say well done. I'm a Whitley Bay fan living in Liverpool, and go to watch Burscough as often as I can. I remember when we used to play you in Unibond 1 a while ago!
 

Well done, deserved champions, hope you enjoyed your day out
Muzza (Yeovil Town)
 

Yes, congratulations. I didn't see your game at our place as I was away, but I watched the final today and it was good to see a team in green winning it again ;-)
Hoagy (Yeovil Town)
 

We got slagged off by other teams when we were given the Hobson's choice of moving to the Unibond League (it was either choose to move or be moved!)- they said we had taken the "easy option" and that the Doc Martens was a superior league. I enjoyed a great day at your place in our championship winning season - kind people, nice club, great food - like we experienced at many of the Northern clubs we visited. I am so pleased that you have acheived this result - I hold no grudges against Tamworth and look foreward to our games with them next season - but it is a tremendous acheivement not only for your club but for the Unibond league as well - who is the superior league now? All the best for the future, Burscough and I hope we meet again.

Burton Brewer
 

Congratulations to you all, on the day you were undoubtedly the better team, Shaun Teale's tactical awareness was outstanding, totally nullifying Tamworth's attack for nearly the entire game.
I think they thought they would win quite easily, but never really showed any sort of form.
You have done the Unibond proud, and as we all know, we are the best league outside of the Conference.

Colin S (Marine)
 

Well done on your FA Vase win today, excellent.
Dunston Fed Website
 

Well done lads and lasses, fantastic result and very deserved. Nice to see the green and white in the stands, reminded me of us last year. Well done again

Green-un (Yeovil Town)
 

FANTASTIC RESULT. YOU MUST ALL BE PROUD OF THE TEAM. YOU CERTAINLY DESERVED IT ON THE DAY, BUT WATCH OUT NEXT YEAR YOU MAY GET DRAWN AT HOME AGAINST A 100-1 OUTSIDER IN THE EARLY ROUNDS AND THINK IT WILL BE A WALKOVER!!!.HOPE YOU ARE ABLE TO TRANSFORM YOUR TROPHY FORM TO THE LEAGUE NEXT YEAR. WELL DONE AGAIN GREENUNS.

THE GLOVERS DIV 3 AND BEYOND!!
 

Well done you were the better team on the day enjoy yourselves from all at t.f.c. gutted but proud.

Phil T TFC
 

Just to say - well done. You were the best team on the day. I'm totally gutted, but enjoyed the company of some of your guys before the game, and shook hands with many after the game. All wished us success in the conference next year. Good luck next season.

Tamworth fan
 

We would just like to send our heart felt congrats to you on your win today.
Well Done, you were by far the better side.
Rich and Thimble (Havant and Waterlooville FC)
 

Congratulations on winning the FA Trophy. Fantastic achievement.
See you at Radcliffe Borough next year.

Stu (Bury and Radcliffe B Supporter)
 

Well done on a great performance...must have been one hell of a day for the faithful. Plus Tamworth were out of sight at the top of our league this last season..not an easy team to beat by any means. None of your boys fell for Walsh's antics either...CONGRATS...and ENJOY!!!

Coops..Chelmsford City
 

Congratulations and well done on being another non-conference side to win the Trophy.
Have a fantastic time revelling in your win
ENJOY IT

From a Canvey Fan
 

Congratulations to you all isnt it a great feeling.Green and white wins again.
devon and dorset greens ytfc
 

Well done - from 400-1 outsiders to Trophy Winners!!
See you in the Conference soon?
Green Alien
Northwich Vics
 

Well done Burscough. You hear people saying that the Unibond is the weakest feeder league, but today, and indeed, the rest of your Trophy run has shown what the Unibond League can produce. Beating Conference and Dr Marten's League Champions.
Fantastic, well done again!
You've represented yourselves and the league wonderfully!

Richard (Leek Town FC)
 

Congratulations on your fine win.
A great result for the club and for the Unibond
See you at Holker Steet next season

Mike Barrow Fan
 

Congratulations on your well deserved Trophy win. See you ALL at Moss Lane next season.  Cheers!!
Mark B (Alty FC)

Just thought I'd congratulate everybody involved with the club on a fantastic FA Trophy win...the passion shown was amazing and entertainment value was second to none. I wish my team (Crystal Palace) would take a leaf out of your book! I'll shortly be launching the "Teale For Palace Manager" campaign!!!!!
Well Done
 

At least we lost to the winners...
... and a green and white side too!
Well done, you thorougly deserved it!

The 1st Green Man (YTFC)
 

Wow- what a run. Fantastic performance from your lads.
Well done from everyone in the Unibond!!!!!!!!!!!

Matt (Blyth)
 

Well done Burscough on winning the trophy, hope we can take it seriously next year and get far
SEE YOU NEXT YEAR
RACCYBORO
 

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR TROPHY WIN!!! A FANTASTIC ACHIEVEMENT!
Well done for keeping the Trophy ribbons green and white.
Look forward to seeing you on a cold Tuesday night in Yeovil. Probably October?!
HOPE YOU CAN REPEAT YOUR TROPHY FORM IN THE LEAGUE NEXT YEAR. BEST WISHES FOR NEXT SEASON.

Robin YTFC