Football: Non-League Notebook: Wark eyes Wembley

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

JOHN WARK won a stack of medals during his career with Liverpool, Ipswich and Scotland, but one honour that has so far eluded the 41-year- old is a winner's medal in the FA Carlsberg Vase. That is an omission he might put right this year, if he can help Woodbridge Town beat Thame United in tomorrow's quarter-final tie.

Wark and another former Ipswich midfielder, Paul Mason, both signed for the little Suffolk club last week and are set to make their debuts at Notcutts Park in the home sixth-round tie against the Oxfordshire outfit. The Woodbridge manager, Dave Hubbick, started his career at Ipswich in the late 1970s when Bobby Robson was in charge and Wark was establishing his reputation.

Woodbridge's squad is short on numbers due to injuries and outgoing transfers. "Paul and John will be a big asset to us," Gary Barker, the Jewson Eastern League club's assistant manager, said. "They have a great pedigree."

Wark was the first to sign for Woodbridge, and Mason joined him when their injury problems worsened. The 35-year-old, who played for Aberdeen and the Dutch club Groningen as well as Ipswich, was on a shopping expedition to Calais with Wark last Friday when he received his summons from Hubbick. He had to hurry back to England, and registration forms were signed that evening in the Black Tiles pub in Martlesham, Ipswich.

Both Mason, who was released by Ipswich early this season, and Wark, who is scouting for the First Division club, have an alternative route to Wembley - they are playing for Windsor and Eton in a veterans' tournament which also has its final at the national stadium. Tomorrow's tie is their priority at the moment, though. "I'm really looking forward to it," Wark said. "The tie means so much to Woodbridge and I hope we can help them win."

The Vase holders Tiverton Town, who are aiming to reach their third Wembley final, have a home tie against Clitheroe, who were the beaten finalists in 1996. The Devon team were glad to avoid their equally accomplished Screwfix Direct Western League rivals, Taunton Town, in the draw. The Somerset side entertain Lymington & New Milton.

The remaining quarter-final sees the champions of the Arnott Insurance Northern League, Bedlington Terriers, take on the former Football League club, Workington. The Cumbrians are hoping that their former Tottenham, Liverpool and England midfielder, Paul Stewart, recovers from a thigh strain.