Boss Turnbull salutes memorable day for US Portsmouth – on and off the pitch

While many clubs in the Wessex League pay their players, the US squad each pay £100 at the start of the season to sign on.

‘We don’t pay them anything, they all get the same - absolutely nothing,’ said Turnbull.

‘That says an awful lot about them.

‘They pay for their own petrol to drive to away games, they pay for their own body warmers, their own training bags.’

Turnbull has previously spoken about his squad’s camaraderie being important, and that was certainly evident at The Crest Finance Stadium.

Youth and reserve players were there watching - along with the management of both teams - as US pulled off the greatest win in the club’s history.

Continuity is a key. All 13 players who appeared against Portchester were at US last season. In contrast, the Royals had eight players - including six who started - who have been signed since 2019/20 was abruptly halted by life in lockdown.

Those facts shouldn’t be underestimated when it comes to analysing the Vase success.

It was totally deserved, and Turnbull said: ‘I don’t think anyone could say we weren’t the best team.

‘I don’t think we were surprised. I told my players on Friday that if we matched Portchester in certain areas we could win, I told them we shouldn’t be over-awed at all.

‘It could easily have been more, James Franklyn could have had four himself.

‘Everyone played well. We had a great spine - Tom Price in goal was a dominant feature as always, the defence did well, Callum Glen and Jordan Pile in midfield were superb, Dec Seiden had a fantastic game, Sweeney (Andrew Todd) had his best game of the season. He led the line really well.’

Turnbull’s gameplan included attacking Portchester with pace down the flanks - hence the deployment of striker Dan Sibley as right wing-back, in the absence of the injured Frankie Paige, for the first time.

In addition to it being a great day for US on the pitch, it was also a bountiful one for the club off it as well.

They club should make over £1,000 from switching the tie from the Victory Stadium in order to attract a bigger attendance.

US will also bank £725 from the Vase prize fund, and are guaranteed at least £250 even if they lose in the first round proper.

For grassroots clubs operating in the midst of a pandemic, that is big money.

‘If we make around £2,000, that’s virtually a quarter of the costs it takes to run the first team this season,’ said Turnbull.

‘That sort of money is massive to us.’