Consett stalwart Calvin Smith relishing prospect of Wembley win in FA Vase final against Hebburn Town

The long-serving midfielder has become a mainstay over two spells with the Belle View club and has played a key role in helping them reach the final of the competition for the first time.

Smith grabbed an extra-time brace to help the Steelmen to a 3-1 win in their quarter-final against Midland League club Atherstone Town.

And he found an extra gear in the additional half-hour once again in the semi-final as he scored the only goal of their home tie against Bitton as the clock ticked past 115 minutes.

Smith admitted he has tried to visualise the prospect of grabbing any big goal in Monday’s tie as he prepares to live out a boyhood dream at the home of football.

He told The Echo: “Whenever you played with mates when you were kids, you were playing in the FA Cup at Wembley on a little patch of grass.

“At our level, it’s all about the Vase, this is our way of getting to Wembley.

“It’s a dream to think of getting there.

“In my head, it is all about winning.

“Some people might just be happy being at Wembley, but it’s about winning the game.

“You think about how it will be scoring the winning goal and celebrating the win.

“I probably won’t sleep on Sunday night, I just want to get out there and show what we can do.”

Smith also revealed that helping Consett chairman Frank Bell realise his dream of watching his club at Wembley was an additional motivation throughout the competition.

“I was at the club when we were in the old stadium, Wembley seemed a million miles away.

“Vase runs ended quickly and that hurt Frank because he always wanted to get to Wembley.

“You see the joy in his face at any win, but knowing we were getting closer and closer to the final has been very special.

“It’s a family at the club, when you’re close to people it means more and we are all sharing in a special moment to make history for the club.”

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