NON-LEAGUE legend Jimmy Sheppard admits he will always been haunted by Bashley’s FA Vase nightmare – and is backing Poole Town to avoid a similar fate.

Sheppard skippered Bash when their first adventure in the competition took them to a two-legged semi-final against Northern Counties League outfit Emley in 1988.

Then the reigning Wessex League champions, Bash were held to a 1-1 home draw before they suffered an agonising 2-1 aggregate exit after going down 1-0 on the wind-swept West Yorkshire moors.

With Wimborne (1992), Winchester City (2004) and AFC Totton (2007) all reaching the final, Sheppard remains the only Wessex League captain to have fallen at the final hurdle.

The midfield enforcer, who played for Poole before joining Bashley in the mid-1980s, told the Daily Echo: “It was total despair and the feeling will stay with me forever. I still think about it now, almost 23 years on. It was horrible.

“We didn’t play that well in the first leg but I was still fairly confident. The conditions for the second leg were farcical and the game would not have been played today. The wind was so strong that someone had to put their finger on the ball so you could take a free-kick. It was ridiculous. We had a couple of chances but they just shaded it over the two legs.

“When the final whistle went, I just sat on the pitch and was numb. I didn’t know what to do. Playing at Wembley is the ultimate for players at that level. We had a decent side and I thought we might get another chance, but it never happened. We came in at the preliminary round stage and got so close.

“The journey home seemed like an eternity and was spent in silence. Nobody knew what to say and we all just sat there and tried to block it out. Some of my best friends were on the coach and hardly a word was said all the way home.”

Sheppard, who won no fewer than seven Wessex League winners’ medals, went on to reach the quarter-finals with both Bashley and Lymington & New Milton. Now 46, he is currently assistant manager at Sway in the Bournemouth League.

“The Wessex League has been diluted and is nowhere near as strong as it was,” said Sheppard. “That’s not Poole Town’s fault and they can only beat what is put in front of them, as they seem to do most weeks.

“I don’t know anything about Whitley Bay but I know Poole Town have got Tom Killick and Taffy Richardson and their experience will be vital.

“They deserve to do well. They have already beaten the favourites and have come from behind in their past two games. With the side Tom has built and if they are on their game, they should have enough. I will text Tom to wish him all the best and would love to see Poole reach Wembley and win the final.”