The FA Umbro Fives
Sunday 15 July 2007
Wembley Stadium

Few footballers ever get to tread on the hallowed turf at Wembley, but even fewer can claim to have played at both the old and new stadiums.

One person who will join that elite list is former Newcastle midfielder Des Hamilton, who will line up for the Bradford-based NBK team at the Finals of The FA Umbro Fives on Sunday.

Hamilton's last trip to Wembley in May 1996 ended gloriously when he scored in Bradford's Division Two Play-Off Final win over Notts County and his team-mates revealed the former England Under-21 international is relishing his return to the famous arena.

"He really fancies going back to Wembley again," said NBK's Akif Waseem. "He's a mate of one of our strikers and we were allowed to bring him in. He's an experienced footballer but even he was keen on getting to Wembley."

NBK's dream of winning on Sunday has been boosted by Hamilton's appearance and Akif added that it did not take long for the former professional to show his talent.

"Just seeing him strike the ball - flipping heck," he added.

After dropping out of professional football after spells with Barnet and Sheffield United amongst others, Hamilton, who cost Newcastle £1.5m a decade ago, will join hundreds of footballers at Wembley who have qualifed from the regional heats.

He, like his team-mates, have ambitions of lifting the impressive FA Umbro Fives trophy for the first time, but just playing there is enough for Akif.

"I just can't believe we are going to play there," he said. "We never thought we would.

"I've been thinking about playing there all the time since we qualified. It's been non-stop. I'm a teacher so I have been telling all the kids at school, but they don't believe me. They don't think I will actually be playing."