Goalkeeping coach Dan Eason always felt Whitstable could get to a Wembley final this season - just ask Jordan Perrin!

Jamie Coyle’s Southern Counties East Premier Division Oystermen are preparing for the biggest day in the club’s history as they take on AFC Whyteleafe in the FA Vase final this Sunday.

While Whitstable have missed out on promotion - losing on penalties against Fisher in their play-off semi-final - and were beaten in last month’s Kent Senior Trophy final to Larkfield & New Hythe, they have recovered superbly from a slow start to this campaign.

Their early-season form wasn’t helped by a late change in goal as Perrin departed to reunite with former manager Marcel Nimani with Sevenoaks last summer.

But Eason revealed: “I’ve known Jordan for a while, anyway. We had a phone call before the season where he didn’t know what he was doing because he wanted to play higher, like he said when he first came to Whitstable.

“We had a phone call and he was ‘umming’ and ‘ahing’ over what to do. I said to him ‘Well, you never know. We could get to Wembley.’.

“He replied with ‘Yeah, I know but, if that doesn’t happen...’. I have spoken to him and give it to him a little bit.

"But it’s just a bit of banter, isn’t it?”

Perrin’s exit left the Oystermen in need of another goalkeeper and Eason helped recommend Dan Colmer.

It proved an inspired call, with Colmer impressing this term. He starred in Whitstable’s fourth-round FA Vase shoot-out victory at Walsham-le-Willows in January.

“While I was playing, I’d heard quite a lot of good things about Dan,” said Eason, who made more than 300 first-team appearances for the club before he headed into a coaching role in 2023.

“When Jordan wanted to move on - I did tell him we might get to Wembley, but never mind - and when I spoke to Coyley, I did say about Dan Colmer. He had heard of him, as well, but I did put his name forward.

“I think he was a bit nervous at the beginning of this season. But he’s 22 or 23 so you always are going to be, coming to a new club and a club with a big fan-base.

“His confidence has been building and he’s had a good season.”

Even if he has ended up missing out on a potential Wembley final, one-time Arsenal youngster Perrin has enjoyed another productive campaign, too.

He helped Oaks to a ninth-placed 2024/25 Isthmian South East finish.

“He’s done really well,” Eason said. “I do keep an eye on what he does - well, I still see all his TikToks and Instagrams - but he has had a good season.

"I’m pleased for him.”

Eason and Colmer share the same first name, which presents its own challenges.

Dan Sr admitted: “It’s hard work! They do call me ‘Dan.’. But when they call out, I guess both of us must stare at them.

“There’s a few times where they put the team up in the changing room where he has accidentally put an ‘E’ instead of a ‘C’. I would play if I really had to play - but I’m not too fussed now. I’m starting to feel my legs on a Sunday so it’s all right.

“[Not playing] my body doesn’t feel like it’s been run over by a bus.

“We have got two Finns, as well. We even signed Fin Dent [who signed from Kennington, only to rejoin them].

“But you do sort of know when someone is calling you, especially on the pitch.

“If you’ve lost the ball and someone shouts ‘Finn’, you know who they’re meaning and the same when they shout ‘Dan’ before the game.”

But perhaps worryingly for fans, when asked who the clumsiest in the dressing room is, Eason replied: “I shouldn’t say Dan Colmer, should I?!”

Arguably, Eason has hung up his gloves at just the wrong time - but a trip to Wembley vindicates his decision to stay involved in the game.

He said: “It’s just a shame I’m not playing any more. The year I’ve given up, we have got to Wembley!

“But when I did stop playing, I always wanted to stay in football because I started men’s football when I was about 15.

“If I completely stopped, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.”

Eason remains firmly involved, though, and - a man backed to become a manager one day while Nimani was in charge - he has been handed extra responsibility by player-boss Coyle and No.2 Matt Longhurst.

He said: “Before they came in, we had a chat about what players to try and keep, and we did keep most of them. Some of them wanted to leave and play higher or just go elsewhere.

“But when I had a meeting with them, I did say that I wanted to learn so I’m involved with the player recruitment. That’s been good from them.

“They’re not just letting me be the goalkeeper coach, I’m more involved, and learning off them.”

The role of Eason and Longhurst in the dugout has taken on added significance since Coyle laced up his boots again last November - not that Eason felt the 41-year-old was too keen.

He said: “With Coyley, I think he wants to play - but doesn’t.

“If it was completely down to him, I think he’d be standing up there. I do enjoy standing up there.

“You just see a different side of the game than when you used to play.”