PLAYED nine, lost nine. That was Stockton Town’s dreadful start to this season, one that has turned around triumphantly and will end at Wembley in the FA Vase final.

Boss Micky Dunwell has enjoyed continued success with the club, leading them to the national stadium having also overseen back-to-back promotions from the Wearside League into the Northern League.

They now occupy a top-half position of Division One with nine league games to go, but with Wembley on the horizon and a meeting with Thatcham Town on May 20,the early season struggles are now a distant memory.

“We knew we had a good squad but we had a few injuries, we had people working away, and we just had to be patient until we got our squad back,” says Dunwell of those drab days back in August and September, eight losses in the league, one in the FA Cup.

“You get a bit down, but I didn’t question myself. I believed in myself and the players.

“A couple of players left and couple came in, like Dale Mulligan and James Risborough, players with a bit more experience of this league and it’s worked, but it’s been a big effort from everyone here.

“Once we got that first win we won something like 21 out of 24 games, which is superb and we’ve gone from strength to strength.”

Dunwell struck a more measured tone in his post-match interviews in comparison to his understandably jubilant squad.

“I’ll be letting down what hair I’ve got left later on in the clubhouse,” he joked.

“You’ve got to enjoy these moments because they don’t come around very often.

“Every single player has been superb, but it has been a collective effort including the staff, the volunteers, the people who work in the bar, it’s a family club and we fully deserve to be where we are.

“We’ve got another nine league games and the quarter-final of the league cup against Morpeth, so you’ve got to stay focused on them, it’s not just about the Vase.”

Stockton and Thatcham will share Wembley with Brackley and Bromley as the FA Trophy final takes place on the same day, meaning four sets of supporters in the stadium and an increased attendance.

Stockton’s appearance continues the Ebac Northern League’s presence in the Vase final, with North-East representation being achieved every year since 2009 with Whitley Bay, with Dunston UTS, West Auckland, Spennymoor Town, North Shields, Morpeth Town and South Shields all having made the journey south.

However, not since Guisborough Town in 1980, when they lost to Stamford has a Teesside team played in the Vase final at Wembley.

“We haven’t been there since 1980 I think, so I’m sure it’ll be a great day,” added Dunwell, whose only previous experience of the stadium is to watch an England international.

“We’ll take bus loads down there, maybe take 10,000 fans, we’ll go there and enjoy it.”