From Gravesend to glory: Punjab United on brink of historic Wembley dream in FA Vase
Forget the moon landing; Gravesend is looking at the stars. It’s one small step onto the team coach to Cockfosters, but potentially one giant leap into the history books for a club that’s rewriting the non-league script.
As the chairman and manager of Punjab United, Chipie Sian has seen it all in Kent, but even he admits he’s pinching himself as the Jabs stand on the brink of a historic Wembley appearance.
His side is just 180 minutes away from walking out under the famous arch that saw Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City win another trophy – this time at the expense of Arsenal – with a mouth-watering FA Vase semi-final first leg against Cockfosters FC looming. It’s been a road paved with grit, late drama, and a bit of non-league magic and Sian is soaking every second of it.
“It’s been a fairytale run for the club,” Sian told reporters. “After we beat Tadley Calleva, we were elated to have made it that far, but we knew we couldn’t stop there. We wanted to achieve something only a tiny handful of teams ever do.”
Road to the arch
It hasn’t always been sunshine and rainbows at the Elite Ground. When Punjab kicked off their journey in the first qualifying round against Oakwood FC, they were mired in a miserable run of league form.
But form goes out the window in cup games. A clinical 2–0 win thanks to goals from Ethan Okechukwu and former Gillingham man Roman Campbell ignited a spark that has yet to be extinguished.
“Sometimes with an awful start in the league, you need to turn your head to a cup competition,” Sian admitted. “That’s exactly what we did.”
Since then, the Jabs have been a wrecking ball. Wick FC, Wembley FC, and Tadley Calleva were all put to the sword as the Gravesend club surged into the third round, marking their best-ever run in the competition. They didn’t stop there, either, dispatching Burnham, Benfleet, and Fisher to set up a semi-final date with destiny.
Before this season, they had never even been past the qualifying stages of the tournament. Now they are close to Wembley and in the play-off mix in the league.
Who is the midfield maestro?
If Punjab do reach the final, they might owe a massive debt of gratitude to Jack Hopkins. The midfielder has been in the form of his life, racking up a staggering 20 goals this term.
None were bigger than his 87th-minute winner against Downton in the quarter-finals, the header that sent the Punjab faithful into absolute raptures.
Who are Punjab United
Southern Counties East League Premier Division are enjoying their best ever cup run
Founded in 2003, Punjab United is open to members and players from all walks of life, explaining that people are welcome ‘regardless of age, race, religion, sexual orientation or ability’.
Sian heaped praise on the midfielder, “Jack has been crucial, for a player who didn’t score many before, to have 20 from midfield is amazing. His late runs and headers are a joy to watch.”
It’s history in the making
This isn’t just about football; it’s about community. As a British-Sikh-based club, the support has reached fever pitch. Home attendances have shattered records, with more than 650 fans packing the stands, a figure Sian once thought was unthinkable.
If they finish the job against Cockfosters, they’ll become the first Gravesham-based club to hit Wembley since Ebbsfleet United back in 2008.
The dream is alive. The arch where Harry Kane will lead out England against Uruguay before heading to the World Cup, is in sight. And for Punjab United, the fairytale might just have the perfect ending.
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