Littlehampton star admits FA Vase trip to Wembley is 'a dream come true'

Biggs works in the communications department for the FA, and on May 22 he will be playing at Wembley for non-league side Littlehampton Town F.C.

The 30-year-old worked alongside his colleagues to produce highly successful content across England social media channels throughout the memorable 2020 European championships last summer held mostly in England.

The Staffordshire university graduate plays in the number ten role for Littlehampton, who sit top of the Southern Combination football league. The Marigolds eased into the final with a 4-0 victory at home to Loughborough students last Saturday and became the first side from Sussex to reach the FA Vase final held at Wembley.

The whole experience is a dream come true for the FA employee.

Littlehampton will play at Wembley Stadium in the FA Vase

He said: "You can't forget you're playing at Wembley and it's probably beyond all our wildest dreams.

"The semi-final was like I can't believe I'm playing a match of football where the prize is going to Wembley, so now it's more, I can't believe I'm going to play at Wembley, in a competitive game, not just a staff kick about."

Littlehampton will be taking on Newport Pagnell Town, who are currently placed fifth in the United Counties League Premier Division South. Newport reached the final at Wembley after knocking out Hamworthy Town 6-5 on penalties.

Within his role at the FA, the former Southampton employee produces tweets from the England and FA accounts and even had to wish his own side for the quarter-finals.

He said: "I put a post out at the quarter-final stage saying good luck to all involved in the FA Trophy and FA Vase. Someone messaged me and said why are you wishing yourself good luck?

"So, there was that, and after this round there was a post, and it is the FA's competition, so you must promote it, to congratulate the four teams going to non-league finals day."

Littlehampton boast an incredible following for a non-league side and have progressed through to the final infront of the sold-out Sportsfield Stadium.

Biggs was in awe of the support and is expecting an even bigger turnout for the trip up to Wembley in May.

He said: "Honestly, I find it mad when I turn up and see 3,000 fans packed around, to see that turnout has been incredible. You don't get that level of support, especially at the level we play at.

"The atmosphere they create in the stands is special. We've been given just over 6,000 tickets.

"I wouldn't be surprised if they'll be asking the FA for more."

Despite making it all the way to the final, Littlehampton did lose in the fourth round 5-0 to Athletic Newham but have been reinstated into the competition after it was found that their opponents had fielded an ineligible player.

The FA employee started dreaming of glory after the round of 16 match against Brockenhurst FC where the Marigolds were missing several players including Biggs himself.

He said: "The guys went 3-1 up but Brockenhurst scored two late goals, it went straight to penalties and when we won that, I thought we might have a chance here."

The 30-year-old is no stranger to professional football, having worked previously at Crawley Town and Southampton which limited his own football career as he had to work weekends.

Biggs has only returned to Saturday football in the last few years as he has had more free time but some of the Littlehampton players have been there for years, "for them this dream of ever playing at Wembley faded for a lot of us when we were failed footballers. For them I feel more excited than for myself. I still pinch myself, it's still exciting for me but for them it feels one step further."

Biggs worked throughout the summer with the nation's heroes who performed brilliantly throughout the tournament such as captain Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling and Luke Shaw.

He said: "I haven't asked any of the England players for advice, I think a few of the FA staff will be coming to the game."

Biggs has a busy year coming up with the Women's European Championships this summer, and then the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in November and playing non-league football is a big commitment on top of that.

Biggs said: "It is quite time-consuming. Saturdays are taken up by playing football.

"I have to travel up to London on a Tuesday and a Wednesday for work which then means getting back in time for a game, finishing up late and then needing to be on the train at 6am the following day isn't always easy."