Wembley in sight for Welfare fans

A group of FA Vase fanatics have helped to raise nearly £3000 for the Alzheimer’s Society following a trail around the country over the course of the competition this season.

Glasshoughton Welfare fans Gary Cooper, Jonathon Picton and Chris Borman started the ‘From Welfare To Wembley’ trek at the First Qualifying Round game between their team and Tadcaster Albion last September and have since taken in a further nine games, including the Semi-Final between Wroxham and Whitehawk last weekend.

Travelling almost 2000 miles around the country in the process, the group have been collecting donations for charity with the largest so far being £350 at Shildon’s game with Whitley Bay in the Sixth Round whilst a £200 donation from Glasshoughton fan Andrew Wood has been the largest individual donation.

A £100 donation from the Gresley Supporters Club in the Third Round represented the largest single donation from a club and it is hoped that more can be raised by the time The Final comes around at Wembley on 9 May and the group’s pilgrimage is complete.

If you would like more details on ‘From Welfare To Wembley’ then you can join their Facebook group which has over 700 photographs and 100 members.

The games which have been attended are as follows:-

First Round Qualifying – Glasshoughton Welfare v Tadcaster Albion
Second Round Qualifying – Maltby Main v Hemsworth Miners Welfare
First Round Proper – Bridlington Town v South Shields
Second Round Proper – Scarborough Athletic v Bridlington Town
Third Round Proper – Gresley v Spennymoor Town
Fourth Round Proper - Armthorpe Welfare v Wroxham
Fifth Round Proper - New Mills v Norton and Stockton Ancients
Sixth Round Proper – Shildon v Whitley Bay
Semi-Final First Leg – Barwell v Whitley Bay
Semi-Final Second Leg – Wroxham v Whitehawk