A NON-LEAGUE team could book their place for a final at Wembley Stadium this afternoon.
Ninth-tier Littlehampton Town FC are taking on fellow ninth-tier Loughborough Students in the FA Vase semi-final at Littlehampton Sportsfield in St Floras Road today at 3pm.
The winner of the sold-out match will play in the final at Wembley Stadium against either Newport Pagnell Town or Hamworthy United, who are also playing today. Over 3,000 tickets have sold for the match.
Littlehampton Town’s cup journey started back in October in the first round where they beat Moneyfields 3-2. Since then, the Marigolds have edged past Deal Town and Sheppey United 2-1 and 1-0 respectively.
It’s the calm before the storm here at The Sportsfield. Its Buildbase FA Vase Semi Final Day vs Loughborough Students. It’s a sell out. 3pm KO pic.twitter.com/qNAyYzYmjj
— Littlehampton TownFC (@LittlehamptonFC) April 2, 2022
They lost 5-0 away to London-based Newham on January 15, but were reinstated after the home side fielded an ineligible player.
Littlehampton Town beat Brockenhurst 4-1 in the fifth round on penalties after a 3-3 draw in normal time on February 12. The quarter-final saw them beat North Shields after a late winner 79 minutes in on March 12.
Manager Mitchell Hand told BBC Sussex: “I have been so impressed with the last two games. I think it will be a case of enjoying it really.
LISTEN: "We're very close, but we're not there. We need to get the job done, but as a group, we're just enjoying the attention."
— BBC Radio Sussex Sport (@BBCSussexSport) April 1, 2022
Injured @LittlehamptonFC defender @AdamHunt17 ahead of 🟡⚫️💛🖤#BuildbaseFAVase #semifinal vs @lborofootball
Live commentary on @BBCSport
website pic.twitter.com/MTVwPlmQRP
“It’s small things like the warm up for the quarter-final, you couldn’t hear yourself think! It was amazing to watch the players warming up in what felt like a professional arena.
“You can’t get too ahead of yourself, I have no fear of losing the game. Wembley is a prize we get if we win one game but it doesn’t belong to us right now. If we win the game then we will start getting exciting.
“For me, Saturday is the final. The prize of the FA Vase is playing at Wembley, if you get there you have won.
“We have got to play the game, live in the moment and enjoy ourselves on the day because it might not happen again.”
The FA Vase final will be played on Sunday, May 22.
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