Wembley final a ‘dream come to life’
Jacob Panons & Joshua Askew BBC News, South East BBC Fans stated their home towns had actually been buzzing before the game Football fans from both Kent and
Surrey have said it is amazing to see Whitstable Town FC and AFC Whyteleafe face off in the FA Vase last at Wembley. It is the very first time either side have made it to the last of the competitors, which is for non-league groups in actions 9 and 10 of the English football pyramid.Whitstable fan Jane Longhurst said she was “so proud” of her child Matt, who is a coach with the side, although she had “absolute goosebumps “ahead of the game. “It’s a fantastic achievement for a young group of young boys that go to work every day and provide their [free] time up later on,” stated Jane.
“It’s been an incredible journey.”
It is the first time either side have made it to the FA Vase last Helen and Danny Waters, Whyteleafe fans, informed the BBC ahead of
kick-off they could not believe what was taking place, especially because Danny’s brother was handling the squad. “This is footballer’s dream,” said Danny. “It’s so exciting. It’s frustrating.””There’s such a charming atmosphere here,” he included.
‘Unbelievable’
Thousands of fans from both teams travelled to the home of English football, with Southeastern predicting as much as 10,000 Whitstable fans could be at the game.
Mark Weatherall, a Whitstable supporter, told the BBC the buzz around the town before the match had been “incredible”.
His wife Georgie included they never would have envisioned their group reaching the final.
Fans said they had goosebumps before the game AFC Whyteleafe have enjoyed an effective couple of years since joint-manager and chairman Kelly Waters took control of in 2021 after Whyteleafe FC folded.He stated before the game:”Just to go out at Wembley in front of our local neighborhood all there cheering for the kids, with this group, will be such a treat. I simply can’t wait. “Fans heading to the
capital from the Whitstable location were prompted to trigger early as replacement buses will be used.There are no trains running from Whitstable Station on the day and a replacement bus service, calling at Whitstable, is running between Ramsgate and Faversham.What is the FA Vase?The FA Vase gives teams in actions 9 and 10 of the English