HISTORY will be on West Auckland’s side in their Wembley final next weekend – with one councillor claiming it is all in the numbers.

County councillor for West Auckland Rob Yorke believes West Auckland Town should succeed in their FA Vase final against fellow North-Easterners Dunston UTS on Sunday, May 13, because, according to the figures, they are due a Wembley win.

The club’s most famous achievement happened in 1909, and was repeated in 1911, when a team of miners from the village travelled to Italy and won the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy, dubbed the first World Cup.

And, 50 years after they retained the cup, West Auckland enjoyed their last trip to Wembley, an FA Amateur Cup Final against Walthamstow.

Coun Yorke said: “So, according to the numbers, we’re about 50 years on from that last Wembley trip, which came about 50 years after the World Cup win. So next Sunday should be another great success for West Auckland Town.

“If you look at the figures, they are due a win on Sunday to keep the trend going.”

However, the time factor has not been so helpful to Coun Yorke and his fellow county councillor Andy Turner in their quest for a statue commemorating the World Cup wins.

The £184,000 project was commissioned to mark the centenary of the wins, but Coun Yorke said the statue is not due to be installed on West Auckland Village Green until next spring.

He said all the funding has now been found and planning permission received, but it will take some time before the statue, being created by artist Nigel Boonham, is ready for installation.

Coun Yorke said: “We know we have waited a long time but I think it will be worth it.

“It is a very complicated procedure, but we are hoping to have it installation by February or March next year.”

Coun Turner, a former professional goalkeeper, said West Auckland’s recent success has got the village excited, adding: “The whole area is bubbling with excitement.

“The club has been through its struggles and a cup final is a just reward for the excellent work done by the management in the past few years.”

On Wednesday night, West Auckland also secured its place in Brooks Mileson Northern League Cup final after beating Bedlington 3-2.