No stone has been left unturned ahead of Whitstable’s massive FA Vase quarter-final tie.

The in-form Southern Counties East League Premier Division side, sitting seventh, will face Shropshire-based Whitchurch Alport at The Belmont, with player-boss Jamie Coyle labelling this Saturday’s match as one of the biggest in the club’s history.

Whitchurch sit just outside the Midland Football League Premier Division play-off places in sixth, with games in hand on those above them, but have suffered a slight dip in form.

While the Oystermen saw their league game at Rusthall fall victim to the weather last weekend, Alport were beaten 4-2 at home by 1874 Northwich, having lost their League Cup semi-final 3-0 at AFC Wulfrunians last midweek - a match a member of Coyle’s backroom staff took in.

Coyle said: “One of our coaches went and watched them last Tuesday.

“They had been in brilliant form but, in their last couple of games, they have lost a couple - including last Tuesday.

“But with any team who has got to this stage of the competition, we need to be fully aware of them and their threats.

“It’s testament to someone from our management team they have travelled four hours and stayed in a hotel overnight. We’re going to relay what he has found out to the players this week.

“That’s testament, not just to that coach, but to the whole team for the work they’re putting in.”

Whitstable’s scheduled trip to Rusthall was a hotly-awaited one, although Coyle was looking at the positives of having extra time to prepare for the visit of Adam Shillcock’s side.

“You can look at it two ways,” said the 41-year-old manager. “We’re in good form and, if we had carried that on, it would have set us up nicely - but we could have picked up some knocks.

“Now, we have got a clear week to prepare. The players put a run into the group on Saturday and, if anything, it was a positive for us.

“They had won nine in a row, we have won six in a row, so it would have been a good game because we’re both in good form, but you cannot do anything about it, really.

“Now, we can prepare for one of the biggest games in the club’s history on Saturday. The players are fully aware of the importance of it.

“But it’s just another game that we need to deliver in.”

A bumper crowd is expected to take in the Oystermen’s big game and Coyle has been taken aback by the patience they have shown this term, even after their slow start to the season.

“They have sold a number of tickets already,” he stated. “The club has been brilliant in advertising and marketing it. Hopefully, all our youth teams will be there, as well.

“It’s going to be a great day for the football club. Having a home game is an added bonus because the fans have been fantastic.

“The support, home and away, has been absolutely brilliant. I’ve never seen patience like it at any football club!

“They have really stood by us and, now, we’re reaping the rewards of that.”

Having struggled to regain his place in the Whitstable side since being cup-tied in the previous round, midfielder Liam Gillies has left for league leaders VCD, the teams set to face one another at Oakwood in the league on Tuesday night.

“Liam Gillies has left for VCD,” Coyle confirmed. “He was one of the players that was cup-tied and, having missed the last Vase game, he then struggled to get back in.

“That’s what can happen in football. When you miss a game through no real fault of your own, it gives someone else an opportunity.

“Bradley Schafer and Dean Grant are the only two cup-tied. I’m making a signing this week, as well, just to bolster our frontline.

“So, this is going to be the strongest squad we have had throughout this competition.”

Among those at Coyle’s disposal are a host of talented young players, who have been vital in their journey to the FA Vase quarter-finals.

“They have been brilliant,” he admitted. “Some of them are young players that have never played non-league football before this season.

“We have Fin Cotton, who was released by Millwall, as well as Jayden Boulton and Ashdon Day.

“They have got bashed about a bit at times but, at 18 or 19, they have played 30-odd games and that’s only going to be good for their development.

“It was always going to take them some time to get used to it, just coming out of Academy football. Matches mean something and there’s three points at stake rather than focusing on player development.

“Even Ronald Sithole has played on loan before but he’s kind of bounced around a bit. He’s still only 20.

“We have got a good team, coupling the youngsters with some experience, and hopefully, we can bring some success to the football club.”