Wembley trip comes after 'brilliant' time at Whitstable Town FC

BBC News

10-05-2025

Whitstable Town's player-manager says it is a "surreal feeling" to be heading to Wembley for the final of the FA Vase.Jamie Coyle, 41, told BBC Radio Kent on Friday everyone was really excited for the biggest game in the club's 135-year history.He said it had been a "real positive season" with the players being "brilliant" and losing only once in 27 games towards the back end of the season."Just to see the town come together and see the excited faces in and around the town as well – it's been a brilliant couple of weeks," he added.
The Oysters will take up to 10,000 fans with them to Wembley as they face Surrey's AFC Whyteleafe on Sunday.In his last season playing, Coyle said it would be "great to go out with a bang and a win at Wembley".He said: "I began playing in the park at five years old and dreaming of playing at my national stadium. "Anyone who plays football or loves football as a kid, you dream of that."For it to happen in my 25th season - I grew up in south London in a council estate, played for Crystal Palace, and been a bit of a journeyman."I've done the majority of the Kent clubs now. To finish it with representing Whitstable Town and being at Wembley is a dream come true for me."
With a lot of youngsters in the team, he said there had been jokes at the club regarding those who were in their first year in senior football."Don't expect to be playing at Wembley every year after their first year in non-league," he said.Suggs, Whitstable resident and frontman of ska band Madness, has taken on lead vocals on the club's new cup final song, while the author of the book behind the BBC series Whitstable Pearl, Julie Wassmer, said the trip to the capital would be "amazing".Wassmer, who moved to the town 26 years ago, said: "I know that we're not favourites, but I think that we can win and we're all going to be rooting for the team."
'Support has been fantastic'
Chairman Steve Clayton said it was fantastic and a relief to make it through to the final."The support has been fantastic, not just from the fans but from local businesses, the community, schools have got behind us," he said.The club had record breaking home crowds at the Belmont ground for the quarter final and semi final matches this season.Ron Martin, club historian, said in terms of "capturing the imagination of the community and the town", Sunday's match "was the biggest".Whitstable take on AFC Whyteleafe at 12:15 BST on Sunday, with full coverage on BBC Radio Kent.