BRADFORD Town chairman Les Stevens is looking forward to hosting another FA Vase spectacular next month and says that he’s been taken aback by how his town have thrown their weight behind his side’s historic cup run.

A bumper crowd of more than 600 watched Bradford best local rivals Melksham Town 3-1 in the fourth round proper last weekend, setting up another potential county derby with Hellenic League Highworth Town or 2013 Vase finalists Tunbridge Wells in the last 16.

After Highworth and Southern Counties East League Wells have duked it out in a fourth round replay in Kent on Saturday following their 1-1 draw last weekend, Paul Shanley’s side will know who they will be welcoming to Trowbridge Road on February 7. Stevens is hoping for more bountiful support from the local community.

“Everywhere around the town, people are stopping you to ask about the game and that’s really good,” said the Bradford chairman.

“On Saturday, there were quite a few older people at the ground that we haven’t seen for a while and they all came to support the team – the town has gone mad.

“We’re happy to have another home game and it could be against another local side too.

“I’m just really happy for the manager, Paul. He’s so meticulous in everything that he does and he’s like that all the time. If someone’s even got holes in their socks, he goes mad.”

Bradford boss Shanley says he may forego taking charge of his team for their Toolstaton League Premier Division clash with Cadbury Heath tomorrow in favour of making a round trip of around 280-odd miles to run the rule over his team’s potential fifth round opponents.

“Mark Edwards, who’s the coach, would take charge of the team against Cabury Heath and then myself and Ali (Belcher, assistant) would go to watch the game. That’s our plan and we’ll see both teams so it would be worth it,” said the Bradford manager.

“From our point of view, we’re just happy to have a home tie. They’re all good teams in the last 16 of a national competition.

“It would be a good game against Highworth and a good game against Tunbridge Wells too.”