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BBC News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Whitstable open-top bus parade celebrates FA Vase final win
An open-top bus parade is to take place in Whitstable to celebrate the town's football club winning the FA Town FC came from behind to beat AFC Whyteleafe 2-1 in the final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, taking the trophy for the first time in the club's parade starts from Whitstable Harbour at 10:00 BST making its way through the town and finishing at The Primcura Healthcare Stadium.A club spokesperson said: "We look forward to celebrating this unforgettable moment with all our supporters." The club thanked its "countless volunteers" who had "given their time" to steward the procession."Your hard work and dedication - especially with such short notice - have made this celebration possible."Post-parade celebrations at the ground include a player awards ceremony, a chance to meet and greet the players as well as photo opportunities with the FA Vase trophy. The FA Vase features teams playing in steps 5 and 6 of the English National League system - Whitstable play in the Southern Counties East Football League.A spokesperson for Canterbury City Council said: "Whitstable Town's incredible achievement at Wembley on Sunday, which was such a historic moment in the club's history, deserves to be properly celebrated."It's great news that everyone involved has come together to make it happen and we hope it's a wonderful occasion where the players and club can bask in the glory they so richly deserve."
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Dad says seeing his son score at Wembley was 'tremendous'
The father of one of Whitstable Town's FA Vase goal scorers said seeing his son hit the back of the net at Wembley Stadium was "absolutely tremendous".Harvey Smith brought the Kent side level with Surrey's AFC Whyteleafe in the 52nd minute before the Oystermen snatched a goal in extra time to win Paul Smith said: "I've seen him on the sideline, I made sure I was there. I gave him a hug."Eric Asare-Mensah, who watched his brother Jerald Aboagye lift the trophy for Whitstable, said: "It's a proud moment to see my brother out there finally achieving because it's a once in a lifetime experience to be out there on the national pitch." Mr Smith said it was a special moment to see his son play and score at Wembley as he had taken him there as a fan 16 years earlier with a family friend, who travelled down from Scotland to watch Sunday's match."It's fantastic seeing all the players, seeing the smiles on their face. It's well deserved," Mr Smith victory saw Whitstable lift their first FA Vase in what was their first appearance at Wembley."I'm well proud. They've achieved so much. They missed out on [promotion via] the play-offs, but they've won at Wembley," Mr Smith said. Mr Asare-Mensah said it was a great experience for Aboagye's nieces to see their uncle's "career-defining moment".Right back Aboagye came on in the 70th minute of the game for Whitstable Town."To witness it myself, I am so proud; very, very proud," said Mr Asare-Mensah."And to actually come home with the trophy, come on - what more do you need to say? "It's the icing on the cake to actually lift the trophy. It's incredible." He said the win had "put Whitstable on the map".Shermaine Davis, Aboagye's friend, said: "Jerald works so hard as well, he's super on it. Health, fitness, absolutely everything."So we know that today is the most amazing day for not just him, but for all of us, and for Whitstable."Jane Longhurst, whose son Matt was a coach in Whitstable's dugout, said the team had "done it for the town"."We've watched them through their ups and downs, their bad games, their good games, but this for little Whitstable Town is a massive thing," she added.
BBC News
11-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Whitstable fans celebrate 'magical' FA Vase win at Wembley
Fans of Whitstable Town FC have said they could not be prouder after their team lifted the FA Vase for the first time in their Kent side beat AFC Whyteleafe 2-1 at Wembley Stadium in extra time on Sunday in front of thousands of Owen Spinola said: "Would you ever expect a small town like us to come to Wembley and to do what we did? It was absolutely magical."Fellow supporter Nick Cooper added: "I have never felt more proud to be a Whitstable person." "We might be a small town, but we've got the grit to come back and smash them," said Mr Cooper. "We've done it, a trophy at Wembley. Who gets to say they saw their home town at Wembley win a cup?"Mr Cooper said he and the fan base felt "untouchable". AFC Whyteleafe took the lead in the first half but Whitstable brought themselves level with a finish from outside the box in the 52nd minute and snatched the lead in extra Waters, whose brother-in-law Kelly is joint-manager of the Surrey side, said the players and staff of AFC Whyteleafe had done "themselves so proud"."I'm sure they [the players] are just so proud of that achievement of playing at Wembley, it really is something else," she said. Jane Longhurst, whose son is a coach for Whitstable Town said lifting the trophy was "the most amazing end to an incredible journey".She added: "It's put Whitstable on the map as a town, but also as a team." Whitstable resident Jessica Frost said the club had brought the community together."It's from our town, its not like going to a Premiership game where you've kind of come in from somewhere else, it's actually our town," she Spencer, who dressed head-to-toe in Whitstable's red, said: "I think the town will be absolutely on a buzz for I do not know how long after this."The buzz that has been created pre-this has been amazing…post-this, I cannot even begin to imagine what tonight will be like if I'm being honest." Georgie Weatherall watched the game with her said: "It is absolutely amazing for Whitstable. "The players have done amazingly well, but obviously the support as well, they've been with them all the way, it's incredible, no one would ever have thought."Fan Susan Cox added: "You could see the passion and the dream come true for them [the players]...they knew that their dream had come true, you saw that." Former England player Stuart Pearce said the support for the two teams was "incredible".He told the BBC: "It just goes to show how a town embraces a day at Wembley."The average crowd at each of these clubs might be in the hundreds, maybe early thousands, but all of a sudden you get a big day out at Wembley and the whole town wants to be part of it."
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Aldershot end 99-year Wembley wait with sunshine and champagne showers
It took Aldershot 99 years and two football clubs to reach Wembley and for almost exactly as many minutes on a sun-kissed May afternoon they made themselves entirely at home there, outnumbering their opponents in the stands and outplaying them on the pitch on their way to claiming their first FA Trophy. Second-half goals from Jack Barham, Dan Ellison and Josh Barrett for the National League side sealed a 3-0 win against Spennymoor Town of the National League North, and secured for their manager, Tommy Widdrington, a dream end to a season temporarily derailed when he suffered two strokes in November. He was back in the dugout in less than two months having acquired, as he put it in the buildup to this game, 'a certain sense of perspective'. This was an excellent, mature performance, whatever way you look at it. Advertisement But it was not entirely carefree. Spennymoor had beaten three National League sides on their way to Wembley and, if eventually outplayed, they were never overawed, either by the occasion or their opponents, and it was the Moors who created the best chance of the opening half only for Rob Ramshaw to send a miserably meek shot rolling into Marcus Dewhurst's arms from only eight yards. For all their possession Aldershot created little before they broke the deadlock three minutes into the second half, Barrett's curling effort from 25 yards the closest they had come in the first, forcing an eye-catching but routine save from Brad James. But just after the interval James Henry ran down the right and crossed, and though the ball arrived slightly behind Barham he somehow contorted his leg into a position to get some kind of contact on it. His touch turned out to be perfect, sending it rolling gently but unstoppably into the corner of the net. Aldershot arrived in poor form, having won just one game since Barham's last-minute goal earned them a 2-1 win against a 10-man Woking in the semi-finals. But once in front they played with the cocksure strut of champions, and in the 71st minute Ellison glanced in a header from a corner to make the game all but safe. Three minutes from time Barrett, the Aldershot supporters' player of the season, produced the cherry on the icing on the cake when his splendid left-footed volley from the edge of the area dipped over James and into the corner of the net. Tyler Frost and Maxwell Mullins missed chances to score a fourth as the Moors sought a late consolation. Advertisement Earlier in the day, the centre-half Jamie Coyle – two-time (Seniors) World Cup-winner, Whitstable player-manager and appearing in his final competitive game just days before his 42nd birthday – led his team from the back to a 2-1 victory against AFC Whyteleafe in the FA Vase final, decided after extra-time when Leafe finally wilted. Whyteleafe have enjoyed a remarkably successful rebirth since they sprung from the ashes of the collapsed Whyteleafe FC in 2021, with two promotions followed this year by a playoff place and a cup final, and more celebrations seemed on the cards when Daniel Bennett gave them a 17th-minute lead. But Whitstable have now lost only two of their past 28 games – and one of those was on penalties – and they fought back to eventually turn over the new Leafe. Daniel Colmer produced a couple of outstanding saves to keep his side in the game before the Oystermen finally came out of their shell in the second half, and seven minutes into it top-scorer Harvey Smith equalised from 20 yards, running on to Nathan Jeche's precise pass and wrongfooting George Hill, who let the ball whistle just a yard or so to his right. Leafe repeatedly threatened to steal victory – Aaron Watson was played through but hit Colmer with his shot; Jamie Mascoll rolled into an empty net only for the referee to spot a foul on Jerald Aboagye; and in second-half stoppage time Rodney Eruotor curled a 25-yard shot on to the bar – but it was Whitstable who eventually claimed it. In the 97th minute Albie O'Mara-Knapp crossed from the right and Ronald Sithole somehow scuffed a shot into a post, but he made up for it three minutes later when he ran on to the same player's long punt forward, reclaimed the ball after Hill saved his initial effort, worked a better angle for a shot and lashed into the roof of the net.
Scottish Sun
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Former Premier League star who was rushed to hospital after having two strokes wins triumphant Wembley final
A new champion was also crowned in the FA Vase at Wembley earlier on The beautiful game Former Premier League star who was rushed to hospital after having two strokes wins triumphant Wembley final FORMER Premier League star Tommy Widdrington celebrated triumph at Wembley as his Aldershot Town side beat Spennymoor 3-0 in the FA Trophy final. Widdrington, 53, said there was "not a prouder person in the stadium" after three second-half goals from Jack Barham, Dan Ellison and Josh Barrett saw them secure victory. Advertisement 4 Aldershot Town FC lifted the FA Trophy for the first time in their history Credit: Getty 4 Former Southampton defender and Aldershot manager Tommy Widdrington suffered two strokes at the end of last year Credit: PA 4 Widdrington said there was 'no one in the stadium prouder' as he lifted the Cup with son, Theo Credit: Getty 4 Josh Barrett, one of three second-half goalscorers, said the team would 'party hard' Credit: Getty The ex-Southampton ace recovered from two strokes suffered at the end of last year to stand at the home of football and lift the Cup with the National League outfit, winning their first trophy since 2008. Widdrington told BBC Sport: "There is not a prouder person in this stadium, I'm very appreciative of the support I've had during my health problems and the people of Aldershot have been incredible. "To finish the year I had with this moment is great, this final is the best of the teams outside the top four divisions, it's no mean feat to win this. "I'm made up for the lads and Wembley is about winning, if you don't win it then it has to be the worst feeling in the world, the players have their names in the history books of the club, I'm delighted." Advertisement Goalscorer Barrett added to the broadcaster that the team would "party hard" and reserved special praise to the manager and the fans. He called on the owners to back Widdrington with some money to make them "a League Two team in no time". The 26-year-old said: "It's crazy, I can't believe these scenes. "We didn't really execute the game plan in the first half but in the second half we dominated, that finish was one I knew was coming, I always try things and that's who I am. Advertisement BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK "The fans deserve this, give our manager some money and we will be a League Two team in no time, let's hope we can get back up that table next season. "I've loved every minutes of being here, the fans have accepted me and we're going to party tonight, party hard!" Diehard Crystal Palace fan with arm in sling goes viral after using his HEAD to clap FA Cup heroes at Wembley Aldershot finished 16th in the National League this season. Advertisement Meanwhile, Whitstable Town came from behind to beat AFC Whyteleafe 2-1 in the FA Vase earlier on. It was the Southern Counties side's first ever time winning the trophy, with their previous best run in the competition being the fifth round in the 1996-97 season.
