Batley Memories: Vila Matautia

[Dons News]

<p>Who can forget the contribution that Vila Matautia played in our promotion-winning season of 1993/94, which culminated in the ‘winner takes all’ game at Mount Pleasant against this weekend's visitors Batley. </p>

<p>Vila has been talking to the Dons about that wonderful game ahead of this weekends big clash.</p>

<p>“It was an amazing game, an amazing result, an amazing day,” Vila recalled.</p>

<p>“From the moment we walked into the tunnel we could hear the Dons fans and when we walked out all we could see was a sea of blue and amber we had to dig really deep and the fans backing pushed us on. I remember one run I made, the wind was swirling and the sound was echoing around the ground it was so loud, it was so inspiring.”</p>

<p>That inspiration helped the Dons to a famous 10-5 victory on the last day of the season.</p>

<p>“We didn’t realise what a good team we had until the last seven or eight games of a season”, Vila added.</p>

<p>"The current team can take heart from this “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.”</p>

<p>“You only need to look at Usain Bolt, he is the worst starter in the 100 metres and wow look how he finishes.</p>

<p>“We have a good coach, we have a good group of young players, we have quality across the park” he added before asking the fans to “keep faith, stick together, together we are stronger.”</p>

<p>Let’s rekindle the sea of blue and amber, lets all stick together, lets get behind the boys on Sunday as we take on the Bulldogs and if you want to relive those old memories of that day, we will be replaying that day on the concourse screens. </p>

<p>You can buy your tickets for Sunday’s game <a href="http://www.keepmoatstadium.talent-sport.co.uk/PagesPublic/ProductBrowse/productHome.aspx?Productsubtype=DONR&campaigntracking=TboxhomeDONR"target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>HERE</strong></span></a>.</p>

<p>#TogetherWeAreStronger</p>

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