FC Nelson aiming to repeat Chatham Cup upset
FC Nelson veteran Mark Johnston, left, and coach Davor Tavich are plotting Nelson Suburbs downfall. Photo: Stephen Stuart.
Coach Davor Tavich and centre back Mark Johnston will set aside their strong Nelson Suburbs links this weekend.
The FC Nelson pair, who go back a long way, are hoping to again knock Suburbs out of the Chatham Cup this year.
Davor was head coach at Suburbs in 2015, while Mark captained the side for several years in his 19 seasons there but played against them when FC Nelson pulled off its shock 2-0 victory last season.
“Nelson Suburbs is a decent team. It is going to be hard, but we have a talented group and I think we can beat anyone. Suburbs has a huge defensive unit so we will probably have to play on the ground,” insists Davor.
FC Nelson overcame conceding a very early goal to beat Central 10-1 in Blenheim in its Chatham Cup preliminary match last month.
An ankle injury limited Mark to 10 games for FC Nelson but, at 39, the Scott Construction manager feels full of running this season.
"So far so good but I suspect I will be in for a busy day at the back. The problem for us will be stopping them as they have shown they are national league level. We will have to defend to a man,” says Mark.
It was appropriate that FC Nelson was training at a Nelson College gym as the school provides seven or eight players in the squad.
Davor coaches the college first X1 which likes to hold possession and unleash its speed on counter attack.
Mark has also coached some of the youngsters at grade representative level so feels there is that level of respect for a veteran. He went to Nelson College himself before going on a university scholarship to South Carolina where he graduated in business management.
The former Tasman United national league player has coached as well and loves being around younger players and teaching them.
Mark still remembers the glory days for Nelson football. “When we had a national league team, Friday night football was huge, and the crowds were massive.”
Hopefully, this Sunday afternoon at Saxton Field is too, where the first round match starts at 12.30pm.