Kirkham & Wesham

v

Lowestoft Town

 

 
The FA Carlsberg Vase
The Final
3pm, Sunday 11 May 2008
Wembley Stadium
Click here for this season's results 
Winning club receives £20,000

This season’s FA Vase finalists had a taste of the big time on Monday when players and officials from Lowestoft Town and Kirkham & Wesham toured Wembley Stadium ahead of next month’s Final.

The 90,000 capacity stadium couldn’t be further away from the finalists’ day-to-day football existence with Kirkham barely breaking the 100 mark in the North West Counties League while Lowestoft’s FA Vase run began against Desborough Town in front of 362 loyal supporters at their Crown Meadow home.

Kirkham youngster, Matt Walwyn, can’t believe that he’ll be playing a part at Wembley Stadium on 11 May: “This is my first trip to Wembley and I can’t believe we’ll all be back here again next month,” said the awe struck 17-year-old who is currently studying for his A-Levels this summer.

Walwyn scored the only goal of the game in the club’s semi final second leg victory over Needham Market but expects to start the final on the sidelines: “Our front two are experienced players so, in all likelihood, I’ll be on the bench, but if I came on and scored the winner at Wembley, there wouldn't be many 17-year-olds who could emulate that."

Kirkham’s FA Vase success is also reaping benefits off the pitch with a brand new club shop opening its doors recently with both Sir Tom Finney and Jimmy Armfield cutting the ribbon on launch day.

The game will mark the end of an era for Kirkham & Wesham with the club due to change their name to AFC Fylde ahead of the 2008/09 campaign.

Lowestoft Town’s FA Vase exploits are also causing a stir on the Suffolk coast as striker, Jamie Godbold, explained: “Everyone’s right behind us and we’ve started to get noticed off the pitch as well. I got recognised in the local supermarket the other day!”

Godbold, who scored in the Ridgeons Premier League side’s 4-3 aggregate win over Whitley Bay in the semi finals, is expecting a tough contest against Kirkham & Wesham: “They beat Needham Market in the semi finals and they’re a very decent side in our league.

“The Needham lads said that Kirkham were strong over both legs so it’s not going to be an easy ride for us.

“We’ve saved our best performances for the FA Vase this season so hopefully we can do it again on 11 May.”