IF it’s Wembley in the middle of May, then there’s a fair chance a North-East team will be involved in the action.

Not in the FA Cup final admittedly – Sunderland’s recent appearance in the Capital One Cup final ended a lengthy wait for one of the region’s big three clubs to make it to the home of English football once again – but when it comes to the showpiece finals for the non-league game, the North-East regularly punches above its weight.

When West Auckland take on Sholing in this afternoon’s FA Vase final, it will be the sixth season in succession that a team from the Ebac Northern League has featured in the biggest match on the calendar for clubs at that level.

Whitley Bay were involved for three seasons in succession, triumphing on each occasion as they ensured the FA Vase trophy was afforded a permanent home at their Hillheads Ground.

When the Seahorses eventually slipped up in the earlier rounds of the 2011-12 competition, their absence only strengthened the region’s grip on the Vase as Dunston and West Auckland played out the first all-Northern League final, with the former winning 2-0.

And last year, it was Spennymoor Town’s turn to clamber victoriously up the Wembley steps after a 2-1 triumph over Tunbridge Wells.

Today, it is West Auckland who once again take centre stage, and with seven members of the 2012 final squad still involved in the first team, there is a strong determination to go one step better against opponents who hail from Southampton and won this season’s Wessex League.

Speak of West Auckland, and it is impossible not to refer to the World Cup triumphs of 1909 and 1910, when the County Durham side beat the likes of FC Zurich and Juventus to achieve worldwide acclaim.

Since then, things have been rather more prosaic, although the Northern League titles of 1960 and 1961 are still cherished, and older supporters have fond memories of the club’s first trip to Wembley to contest the 1961 FA Amateur Cup final, which was lost to Walthamstow Avenue.

Since then, success has proved elusive, but after the near miss against Dunston, West will head to Wembley today as favourites to add a national title to their World Cup crown.

Boss Peter Dixon is hoping that after a long, hard season, his players are peaking at the right time, and West’s strong finish to the Northern League campaign suggests the club’s leading lights are hitting form when it matters most.

If they need any inspiration for today’s final, they can draw it from their North-East rivals who have already celebrated a Wembley win.

After Whitley Bay, Dunston and Spennymoor, it is time for West Auckland to etch their name on the FA Vase Hall of Fame. And if they succeed, the rest of a buoyant North-East non-league scene will be celebrating alongside them.