Today’s game at Wembley may be Spennymoor Town’s first at the national stadium, but defender Leon Ryan is hoping it coincides with a third FA Vase medal.

The giant centre-back was an integral part of the victorious Whitley Bay teams that beat Glossop in 2009 and Wroxham in 2010 at Wembley, and now he wants to add to his winning Vase memories.

It was a unique feeling the first time Whitley Bay won at Wembley,” he said.

“It is fantastic when you play there for the first time, when you feel the atmosphere and see the stadium. It was jaw-dropping at times. But it wasn’t quite the same when we went back the following year, because we’d already experienced it, maybe that gave us an edge the second time when we played Wroxham.

“Some of our players will be going to Wembley for the first time and I hope that they have the same amazing experience that I had the first time I went there.”

Ryan is one of the players who could take over as skipper from the injured Daniel Moore, who suffered a broken ankle last week against Ashington.

“Everyone is heartbroken for Bobby, because he has been exceptional all season,2 said Ryan. “It was difficult to know what to say to comfort him when we heard about the injury. What can you say to somebody who’s going to miss a Wembley final?

“He’s confronted the fact that he’s going to miss out on the game, and he’s being brave. It was a horrible thing to happen to him. But he’s got time on his side, and he’ll have more opportunities. If we win, I hope he’ll be with us on the way up to the Royal box.”

Moving to the Brewery Field was probably the natural thing to do for Ryan, who once lifted trophies on three famous grounds in one season: the Northumberland Senior Cup at St James Park for Whitley Bay, the Vase at Wembley for Whitley Bay, and the FA Sunday Cup at Anfield for Hetton Lyons.

“I’ve known Gavin Cogdon since I was nine or ten, and Brad Groves and Jason Ainsley have been a big part of my football life, since I started playing at Hetton Lyons. When Brad took over at Spennymoor, he always wanted me to move there. We’re a very close knit bunch of players, everybody gets on well together.”

Northern League followers have been comparing the merits of the Vase-winning Whitley Bay teams with the current Spennymoor team, and Ryan said: “They’re two contrasting sides.

“Whitley Bay were a big, powerful side that bullied teams at set-pieces. Davey Coulson and I scored 33 goals between us one season from set-pieces, because we were that effective. I got 18, and he scored 15. But we also had match-winners, like Paul Robinson, Lee Kerr and Paul Chow.

“Spennymoor are more football-orientated, and we like to use our movement, experience and pace. I think we have the best squad in the country at this level, and Keith Graydon is certainly one of the best players. If he plays, Wembley should suit him. I think only Paul Robinson of Whitley Bay can compare to him.

“We have players with plenty of pace who can get down the side and round the back of teams, such as Wayne Phillips, Chris Moore, Craig Ruddy and Anthony Peacock, and then there’s the pace of Titch (Cogdon) and Speedy (Steve Richardson).”

Ryan knows that the opening 15-20 minutes are crucial. “So much can happen in those opening minutes. When I was at Whitley Bay, we scored in less than 20 seconds against Wroxham, and again a few minutes later. We never looked back after that and won 6-1.

“On Saturday, if we defend well in the opening period and be ready for Tunbridge Wells to throw everything at us, we can then maybe put them out of their rhythm.

“But you never know with Vase finals, anything can happen. We were level 0-0 with Glossop for about an hour, and then we scored, and the game really opened up. It was uphill for them from then on.”