INSPIRE us to victory, is the rallying cry from Uttoxeter winger James Gill ahead of a match dubbed the 'most important game in the club's history'.

Uttoxeter will battle it out with Coventry Welsh for a place in the Midlands Junior Vase final at Oldfields tomorrow. And Gill, pictured below right, is appealing to the town's sports fans to help cheer Uttoxeter on to glory.

"This match is the most important game in the club's history since its founding in 1982," claimed Gill. "And at the same time I would say it is the most important game in the careers of the vast majority of our players."

Home advantage is 'massive', according to the winger. And a vocal support could prove to be Uttoxeter's 16th man.

"We haven't lost a fixture at home in over 12 months," said Gill. "We don't like teams coming here and beating us on our turf. What has helped in recent years is the support we get. It is encouraging to see so many support us and be complimented on our efforts.

"A lot of members within the club have been working hard to encourage locals to come and watch Saturday's match. And knowing we've got the backing of so many would be invaluable."

Victory over Coventry Welsh would not only give Uttoxeter a place in the Midlands Junior Vase final.

It would also fire the Oldfields outfit through to the national phase of the competition – and a chance to pit their skills against the best sides from across the country who compete at Midlands Four standard.

And if the Uttoxeter players required another incentive, the National Junior Vase final will take place at Twickenham.

"To play at Twickenham is every schoolboy rugby player's dream and that never dies – if anything it becomes more important as you get older," said Gill. "So it will be a burning aspiration for our players, many of whom are approaching the end of their careers.

"Flanker Mat Nance has already played at Twickenham as a junior and I can remember him saying he was perhaps too young to appreciate it at the time. But for many of our players who are unlikely to play at a higher level it is our world cup final – the ultimate goal."

Three more wins in the Junior Vase – starting with tomorrow's clash with Coventry – would fire Uttoxeter through to that ultimate goal. And the Midlands Four West side may never have a better chance, according to Gill.

He said: "The best the club had done previously was reach the fifth round in 2007. We have already surpassed that.

"Also what many players will be thinking about is that if we win promotion this season then we won't play in this level National Cup. We will move up a level, so it would be much harder to get to the final."

Kick-off tomorrow, at Oldfields, is 2pm.

Turn to page 47.