Gary Stonehouse travelled to the north-east on Saturday to visit the 2013 FA Vase winners Spennymoor Town who are still basking in the glory of last season’s triumph.
It seems only yesterday that goals from Gavin Cogdon and Keith Graydon sealed a 2-1 victory over Tunbridge Wells on that sunny day last year - and it was clear that memories from Wembley are still fresh in the minds of those involved as they prepared for their Fourth Round tie with Causeway United.
Spennymoor physio Andy Oates had agreed to be my minder for the day, and he recalled tales from the final as we made our way to "the traditional" Vase pre-match meal.
Andy Oates giving a massage to Kallum Griffiths
Andy, known as Oatesy to everyone at the club, explained: "A friend of the chairman's owns Bowburn Hall and offered it to us for our first Vase game last season.
"We won, and the manager is a bit superstitious, so we have been coming back ever since. It's become a bit of a tradition now."
The squad look to be in relaxed mood as they tuck into scrambled egg, beans, pasta and chicken. I’m lucky enough to be invited to the top table of the club's coaching staff by manager Jason Ainsley who looks a little concerned - "We usually eat in the other room with the conservatory," said the superstitious boss.
Oatesy gave his analysis of which players were fit and who needed a final check once we arrived at the ground and the staff discussed the reports they had received on their opponents.
Jason Ainsley and captain Chris Mason received a replica of The FA Vase before kick-off
While Ainsley and his staff finalised the details of their game plan, we left them to make our way to Brewery Field – giving a beep of the horn and a wave to one of the club's academy players waiting for a lift to his game. There is a real feel of togetherness throughout the club – and this was backed up by the chairman Bradley Groves upon my arrival at the ground.
As we sat down for a cuppa Groves explained: “We are a club that wants to go places, and from the guy that sweeps the changing room to the people that run the club, we are all in it together.”
Groves has high ambitions for The Moors. He added: “In the last year we have fitted Conference National-standard floodlights, new dugouts, added disabled toilets, additional turnstiles and opened the ground up to four sides.
“We have put in plans to build a seated stand on the other side and another behind the goal. It’s an exciting time to be involved with this football club.
“Spennymoor is one of four or five real sleeping clubs at this level”
Bradley Groves Chairman of Spennymoor Town
“Spennymoor is one of four or five real sleeping clubs at this level. The Vase win definitely brought us much more awareness and our average gate has now gone up too. It has brought a lot more interest to the town and towards the club.”
I made my way back into the dressing-room as Oatesy gave a final massage to some of the players. I spotted last year’s Wembley hero Keith Graydon.
He said: “I don't get that excited about football, but I woke up this morning excited with it being The Vase.
“Last year was an unforgettable day for me, and the club. We had an open-top bus parade afterwards, with 15,000 people there cheering us on, and I didn't even realise that many people lived in Spennymoor. We want all that again.”
After the two teams warm up, ‘Local Hero’ – a song made famous by neighbours Newcastle United – blasts out from the PA as they enter the field for the action. The drizzle has made the pitch heavy, but that doesn’t dampen the crowd’s enthusiasm as the hosts start at a pace.
The first half ends goalless and the smell of onions fills the air as the burger van gets into full flow. After sampling its delights, it was back into the stand for the second-half.
The view from the stand at Brewery Field
The groans of frustration grew with every passing minute as Spennymoor missed chance after chance to take the lead.
But then Graydon rifled home a 30-yard free-kick on 73 minutes to seal the victory.
The final whistle was met with cheers from the home crowd, dreaming of a Wembley return.
Graydon said afterwards: “It's funny because I woke up this morning and had a feeling that I was going to score and tweeted it.
“As the game went out we missed chance after chance and I thought it was going to be one of those days - but as soon as I hit it I knew it was going in.”
“The goal was a worldie – but I’m not bothered how they come, as long as we got through to the next round”
Jason Ainsley Manager of Spennymoor Town
Ainsley said: “I think nerves played a part today, the ball was like a hot potato for the first 15 minutes, but after that we got it down on the deck and dominated.
“The goal was a worldie – but I’m not bothered how they come, as long as we got through to the next round.”
Ainsley invited me up into the bar area to chat with the chairman, and the pair embraced before sharing a beer. They’ve been involved together in the game for over 15 years, and it looks like a partnership that is destined for great things.
Ainsley said: "Anyone who plays Spennymoor will know they will be in for a tough game and likewise we know that there are great challenges ahead.”
With the club confirming plans to build a new two-storey clubhouse after raising over £200,000, the Brewery Field is a hive of activity – and when Newcastle Benfield head for Spenny next month, they’ll know they will be facing a club on the up.
