It is 60 years ago this week that Crook Town won the FA Amateur Cup at Wembley. Here two young men remember that momentous day

Michael Manuel

"All the talk in Crook after the semi-final was that the team needed a coach, and can you imagine the surprise for the Crook faithful when it was announced it would be Bob Hardisty of Bishop Auckland fame.

“A second shock: Derek Carr would play in place of the injured Bill Jeffs and not George Masters.

“The other surprise was that Crook would play in black and white.

“We travelled to Wembley full of apprehension as Barnet had beaten two other local Northern League clubs, Willington and Bishop Auckland, on their cup campaign.

“Crook centre forward Brian Keating often stayed with my aunt and uncle, Sarah and Walter Trotter. Brian always said aunt Sarah's Yorkshire Puddings were the reason he scored goals for Crook. He loved his dinners, he did.

“A long overnight journey, a quick look around London, then on to Mr and Mrs Johnson’s who were family friends. Mr Johnson worked at Wembley stadium. Then on to Wembley, not the most comfortable place to watch football, but we savoured the atmosphere as a disappointing crowd of 60,000 rolled in. Over the moon to see Bill Jeffs lead the team out.

“What an exciting game: 1-1 at half-time, with two great goals and two great saves from Ray Snowball. Apprehensive again at the break but an outstanding second half display, our experienced team never looked in danger.

“Went to the pictures in London, then another long overnight journey home. Our train struggled up the incline from Howden-Le-Wear to Crook and two fellas jumped off, perhaps they had no tickets

Dale Daniel

"I was just 13 at the time and lived in Witton Park. It was a last minute decision to go to Wembley because my dad was working, so my uncle took me. We had no tickets and left Etherley railway station at midnight on the Friday. It was one of the slowest trains imaginable, and it took ten hours to reach Marylebone station at 10am.

“We did a quick tour of London, taking in Trafalgar Square, The Mall and Buckingham Palace. I was fascinated by the escalators at the railway stations, people were running up and down them, I thought they were mad.

“Soon we were walking up Wembley Way. It was a dream come true for a raggy-arsed village boy.

“The game was over in a flash, but the right result. We went for something to eat in a small cafe and then my uncle took me to Madame Tussauds which was in Baker Street.

“We paid our money in a theatre, but we landed in the Planetarium looking at the stars and the galaxy system for the best part of three hours. When we got outside my uncle said: ‘I’ve paid a bloody fortune in there to look at the stars and here we are outside and I can see them for nowt.’

“After that it was back to Marylebone station where I fell asleep in the waiting room before our long journey back home. We were tired and worn out, but who cared? Crook had won the Cup!”