Family of Sean Raggett, from Gillingham, celebrate son's historic FA Cup win for Lincoln City against Burnley
10:00, 20 February 2017
When six-year-old Sean Raggett was practising the Maradona Turn in the back garden of his Gillingham home, he could only have dreamed of one day playing in the quarter finals of the FA Cup.
Now the 23-year-old has written himself and his club, Lincoln City, into the history books after they became the first non-league side to reach the sixth round in 103 years, thanks to his 89th minute header.
And watching the shock 0-1 win against Premier League Burnley from the stands at Turf Moor, were Sean’s number one fans, his mum and dad.
John and Jane Raggett travel from Gillingham to watch their son, a former Rainham Mark pupil, play at every home and away game, and his dad said Saturday’s match was an amazing moment.
Speaking to the Medway Messenger yesterday, he said: “We were praying for the draw. The longer it stayed at 0-0 the more nervous we were getting. Every time the ball crossed into the Lincoln half, nerves were shredded.
“So then for him to pop that one in the 89th minute, well it was absolutely crazy. We couldn’t have dreamt of a result like that to be honest, and obviously for Sean to actually score the winner, that’s the icing on the cake.”
He added: “Being realistic we were all saying a draw would be an out of this world result to take them back to Sincil Bank, but you are realistically expecting a Premier League side to beat you.”
The couple stopped off at the motorway services on their return to Medway yesterday, to be greeted by their son on the back pages of the papers.
Mr Raggett said: “It’s another surreal moment. We’re very proud of him obviously, but he’s worked hard for it.
“The two boys have been football crazy since they were children, they’d be out in the back garden practicing the Maradona Turn when they were six and seven.”
Sean’s footballing career began at Deanview 95 when he was just seven, before moving to Thamesview and then on to Chatham Town where he was spotted for the Gills’ youth side aged 14.
He was released from Gillingham at 16 but the then Dover manager, Andy Hessenthaler, invited him to join their academy, where he progressed through to the first team.
Mr Raggett said: “His main aim from a young age was to be a professional footballer, and this was his first full season as a full time professional. He wants to go as high as he can, as high as his ability will take him.
“He works his socks off to improve his game. He’s not long turned 23 so who knows where the journey will take him.”
Speaking ahead of last night’s sixth round draw, Mr Raggett said he was hoping Lincoln would draw Tottenham at White Hart Lane, but Sean would like Arsenal at the Emirates. Lincoln will play either Arsenal or Sutton United following tonight's match.
He said: “As a club, I think Lincoln would like to get a home draw and fancy their chances against anyone now, their confidence is riding so high.
“But a draw away at a big club like Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man United, would be a massive pay day and would really help Lincoln towards getting back into the Football League, which is their ultimate main aim.”
Mr Raggett said although Lincoln was their number one team at the moment, the whole family were also Gills fans, and there was also a lot of rivalry when it comes to the Premier League.
While Sean supports Arsenal, his dad is a Tottenham fan, mum a Liverpool supporter, his 20-year-old sister Susie supports Chelsea and his brother David, 25, cheers on Manchester United.
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