THOUSANDS of Gateshead FC fans will make the journey to the capital this weekend in hope of seeing their team return to the Football League after more than 50 years.

Cambridge United stand in their way of being promoted from the Skrill Premier Division into the Sky Bet Football League 2.

The Gateshead FC Supporters Club is running coaches down to Wembley setting off at 7am on Sunday (May 18) and all fans are being urged to book a seat.

The coaches will be returning straight home about an hour after the final whistle.

Ross Black of the supporters’ club said: “I’m expecting up to 10,000 fans in our end for the final which is phenomenal considering our gates at home this season.

“However the cup-fever type atmosphere has really hit the town and many Newcastle and Sunderland fans have come in support to the International Stadium for the last few games.”

Many fans are also travelling down by train on the Saturday night and Sunday morning with East Coast Services running an extra early morning train to London, leaving Newcastle at 8.50am, arriving at King’s Cross Station at 12.54pm.

Should Gateshead pull off a heroic win this Sunday, Daniel Spraggon, son of the club’s treasurer Ronnie, will be cutting off his popular afro in celebration of the victory.

Mr Spraggon works on the stadium’s turnstiles on match days and agreed to trim his well known hairstyle after being dared by friends and fellow Gateshead fans.

The club has released a Wembley edition of their home shirt in celebration of reaching the promotion final, which has proved to be a big seller along with the expected scarves and flags that will be seen lining the Wembley walkways and stadium stands.

The very vocal “Clothes Line” Heed Army singing section will be seated behind one of the goals.

Northumbria University student and club shop worker Lauren Teague started supporting Gateshead when she moved to the region in 2010 and will be at Wembley this Sunday.

She said: “I was hooked from my first game and couldn’t help but fall in love with the little club on the other side of the river, who I’ve been proud to support ever since.

“Unbelievable is an overused word but playing at Wembley in a chance for promotion into the Football League is quite literally unbelievable.”

Tickets are £28. Contact 0871 297 0044 or visit www.gateshead-fc.com