Based between Blackpool and Preston, Kirkham & Wesham had never kicked a ball in The FA Vase prior to September last year but Mick Fuller’s side had an immediate impact on the competition, breezing through the qualifying rounds before seeing off Parkgate 5-0 in the First Round Proper.

The Parkgate victory saw Kirkham & Wesham awarded their first Team of the Round prize and it wasn’t long before the Kellamergh Park outfit were back on Soho Square’s radar. A 3-0 win over West Auckland in Round Two was followed up with a 5-2 thrashing of Newcastle Benfield and yet another FA Team of the Round award.

Kirkham received their second Team of the Round award from The FA's Fred Hunter and Mick Fuller commented: “To win the award once was brilliant for everyone at the club but to be recognised again is just unbelievable.

“We also received two crates of Carlsberg for our Team of the Round award win over Parkgate and we all celebrated our victory at Newcastle Benfield by drinking it on the way home!”

Kirkham’s success on the pitch has also seen a much needed cash injection into the club’s coffers. Fuller explained: “This season’s FA Vase run is the first time when we’ve actually generated some proper finance which would have been unthinkable not so long ago.

“Our new pitch at Kellamergh Park used to be a farmer’s field and it's taken £70,000 to put it down and get the surface levelled and drained properly. It's a huge amount of money at this level, so The FA Vase has been brilliant for prize money and decent crowds.

“Our run in The FA Vase has certainly given this club a huge boost, some fantastic publicity and now a lot more people know a thing or two about Kirkham & Wesham FC.”