A FOOTBALL chief hopes it will be third time lucky and the end of 53 years of hurt when his side travel to Wembley this weekend.

Saturday’s FA Vase final against Hampshire-side Sholing will be Stuart Alderson’s third trip to the home of English Football to watch his beloved West Auckland Town play.

But after two defeats in those previous visits, the County Durham club’s general manager will be hoping Saturday’s journey has a happier ending.

Mr Alderson said: “Here’s hoping it will be third time lucky, Sholing are a very good side and it will be a challenge, but we have got some top players ourselves and we will be going there to win it, no question about that.”

When he was 13, Mr Alderson was part of a 40,000 crowd at Wembley to watch West lose 2-1 to Walthamstow Avenue in the 1961 FA Amateur Cup Final.

He said: “It was a great day out, I think the whole village went to London, it was just a shame about the result.”

He had to wait 51 years before West were back at Wembley, for the 2012 FA Vase final against fellow Northern League outfit Dunston UTS.

About 5,000 people watched West once again fight bravely but fall to a 2-0 defeat to the Gateshead-based side.

Seven members of the 2012 squad remain at West Auckland, but Mr Alderson said all the players know about the club’s history and are keen to record a Wembley win.

He said: “We will travel down on Friday and do some training at Queen’s Park Rangers, who have very kindly agreed to host us. Then the players will have a chance to go to Wembley and soak it all in before the final.

“We are expecting a big attendance, more than last time, and hope to see our fans enjoying the day with us.”

After a frantic three weeks which has seen them play 14 games to cement fifth place in the Northern League’s Division One, West Auckland players will also receive some pampering at the Manor House Hotel spa in the village before they head to London.

Mr Alderson said: “It has been a hard few weeks for the lads and understandably there have been some concerns about getting injuries before the cup final, but we have done it now and will end the season at Wembley – hopefully with a win.”

Match tickets cost £15 for adults and £5 for under-16s from ticketing.

thefa.com.

West Auckland’s club shop will also be open from 7pm today and tomorrow to help fans buy match and coach travel tickets as well as Wembley merchandise.