‘From The Den to Wembley’ - former Deal Town manager Tommy Sampson relives playing and management days up to 2000 FA Vase triumph in new book

By Kevin Redsull

Deal’s penalty shoot-out defeat in their FA Vase Quarter-Final at Lincoln United will have come as a particular disappointment to former manager Tommy Sampson.

Sampson was beginning to look forward to reliving that special moment 24 years ago when he led the Hoops to Wembley glory in the Vase.

Deal remain the only Kent club to have lifted the trophy thanks to Roly Graham’s never-to-be-forgotten winning goal in the 2000 Final against Chippenham Town.

And Sampson also has the consolation of seeing his second book published today (Friday).

Entitled ‘From The Den To Wembley’, it tells the story of his playing and managerial career which started at Millwall and climaxed with the Hoops’ triumph in the last Final to be played at Wembley before it was redeveloped and follows his 2013 book ‘Sudden Exit’ a memoir about his life-changing stroke in 2007.

Although the current squad will now not be able to emulate the class of 2000 this season, Sampson is a big fan of Steve King’s side.

“I really love this club and what they are doing now is amazing,” he said.

“I never thought I would see another Deal team get close to Wembley again because of finances and maybe the structure of the club, but the current committee have turned things around and, on the pitch, Steve’s side is exciting to watch. They’ve got pace and also a big goal threat.”

But Sampson is not willing to compare the current side with his team, saying: “Honestly, you cannot do that.

“Football is so very different now at all levels and I would not dare compare the two teams.

“My team were not that exciting to watch but they had a lot of experience and they got the job done.”

Sampson’s squad included “old hands” like Steve Lovell who has made an emotional