Growing up in Bury, Kieran Trippier would dream of one day having the chance to play in an FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium.
As he practised in the garden with his three older brothers or playing with friends on the grass in their council estate in Summerseat, Bury, Trippier would imagine what it would be like to star at the home of English football.
In a household full of diehard Manchester United fans, Trippier saw the Reds lift the FA Cup four times as a kid, as the young set-piece specialist looked to one day emulate David Beckham and the Neville brothers, who had grown up just down the road in Bury.
Trippier’s search for an FA Cup winner’s medal goes on at Newcastle United but that dream of one day playing at Wembley Stadium turned into a reality in 2017.
The full-back was part of a Tottenham Hotspur team who faced Chelsea there in the 2016-17 FA Cup semi-final in April 2017, before being on the bench for England versus Slovenia at the stadium the following month and then started against Germany under the arch in the November.
He said: “For me, I grew up watching the FA Cup and knowing that it was such an honour to have the chance to play in it and hopefully win it. To win the trophy at Wembley Stadium meant it always had that special feel to it.
“I have had the honour and privilege to play at Wembley Stadium so many times for my club and country. Every time I play there or even on the bench, it is always a proud moment to represent my country and club at the home of football.
“Playing there for the first time was a surreal moment. To even be selected for England is one thing but to represent my country at Wembley Stadium, every game is always special, and I always get the butterfly feelings when I come back.
“Everything I had done in my career to get to that moment, it was surreal.”
And when Trippier looks back on his career, well his life in general, some of his greatest moments will have come under the famous arch.
Trippier was an integral part of an England squad which reached a first major final since 1966 during UEFA EURO 2020.
The scenes at Wembley Stadium following the last 16 victory over Germany and the semi-final win against Denmark, as the country started to return to a sense of normality after the Covid pandemic, were unlike anything seen in a generation.
With their family and friends in the crowd, with Sweet Caroline blaring out of the speakers, the players were able to share moments few will ever be able to experience.
Trippier said: “My favourite Wembley moment has to be the Denmark game, even though I came on in that game and didn’t start.
“It was the semi-final of the EUROs, on home soil, and after going 1-0 down, the way we reacted and having come off the bench to get some minutes, and then the celebrations after the match having reached a major final for your nation, that game has to be my favourite Wembley moment.”
Read all about Trippier’s journey to the top here and find out how Wembley Stadium inspired another England international to reach the top here.
You can also relive 100 of the greatest moments at Wembley Stadium connected by EE here.
