North Ferriby United manager Billy Heath believes lifting The FA Trophy will put the village on the map – and is confident his side can make their dream a reality.
Heath's side go into the semi-final second-leg having suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Hednesford on Tuesday, but it was a risk he had prepared to take. He made ten changes to his squad in preparation for Saturday's decider at Grange Lane.
The Villagers squandered a two-goal advantage in the first-leg away at Conference South side Bath City, with Lee Howells' team fighting back to secure a draw that leaves the tie hanging in the balance.
North Ferriby v Bath City (2-2)
The FA Trophy
Semi-Final second-leg
3pm, Saturday 28 February
Grange Lane
But despite this disappointing turnaround, Heath feels that the home advantage will benefit them.
"It gives us an advantage with it being at home. Our home form is very good; we have lost only once at home in the league this season but it is going to be a difficult game," said Heath.
"It's a 90-minute play-off now for a place in the Wembley Final.
"The players were obviously disappointed being 2-0 up but the circumstances weren't really great and I wasn't best pleased with the first goal. But we will be buoyant on Saturday.
"When you are 90 minutes away from a final and you have got to win a game at home, it looks as if the club's dreams can become a reality.
"It is a massive thing for a football club that, let's face it, a fledging club, even in the Conference North. It's only our second season in the League, so to make it to The FA Trophy Final it would be unbelievable for the club, the chairman and for everybody."
Action from the first-leg, which ended 2-2
The small Yorkshire village has witnessed its team make a Wembley appearance once before – in The FA Vase Final where they lost 3-0 to Whitby Town – but The Trophy and a televised Final is something that the club desperately want to get to.
"The prestige that The FA Trophy brings with it could help put North Ferriby on the map – it would be huge if we could take that final step.
"We know the chairman went to the Wembley last time so it would be fantastic for him to have gone to both the old and the new Wembley in a cup final.
"I wasn't there the last time we made it to Wembley but he [Les Hare] has always reminded us and he is desperate to get there again."
Early bird tickets for The FA Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 29 March, are on sale now, starting from £7.50.
Get yours here.
