Fleet wing sensation Anthony Cook is determined to bury bad play-off memories when he sets foot on Stonebridge Road for the last time this season on Saturday.
The 24-year-old, voted supporters’ player of the year for his exuberant displays this season, has lost in two semi-finals with Chelmsford and was injured for a third (against the Fleet in 2010-11) and wants this occasion to be memorable for all the right reasons.
“I must admit I have never been more excited about playing a football match in my whole life,” Cook told FleetOnline. “It’s not often as a player that you get to play in a final, so you have to enjoy the moment, give it everything you have and don’t let the moment pass you by.
“This will be my third time physically playing in the play-offs – after missing out with injury, coincidentally against Ebbsfleet three years ago – so hopefully it will be third time lucky.”
Cook knows what to expect from Dover but is adamant it shouldn’t affect Fleet’s gameplan: “Dover are a good, physical side that play very direct high-tempo football and have talented players that can make a difference so we know what to expect,” he said. “However, after spending a season with this group of players I know if we turn up and empty the tank on the pitch, give it everything we’ve got, I am very confident that the quality, work ethic and togetherness we have can lead us to victory.
“As a player you live to play in big derby games like this in front of a sell-out crowd. The atmosphere will be electric and with the Stonebridge Road faithful behind us, I’m excited and I just cannot wait to get my teeth into this game.”
