Willenhall's FA Vase finalists reunite

The first West Midlands team to reach the final of the FA Vase were honoured 30 years after making history on the hallowed turf of Wembley.

Nine of the 13-strong Willenhall Town squad returned to the club to receive commemorative medals and watch a DVD recording of the match they lost 3-2 after extra-time to North East outfit Whickham on 25 April 1981.

Captain and centre-half Brian Fox, now 62 and living in Charter Close, Norton Canes, said: "It is great to meet up again with so many of the lads.

"We took 7,500 fans with us to Wembley all those years ago and the memories are as sharp as ever. It feels like it happened yesterday.

"You never forget an experience like that. Many professional footballers have long careers without ever playing at Wembley.

"I felt so proud leading the team out there and receiving our runners-up medals from Sir Matt Busby.

"It was one of the three best days of my life."

One person who loved watching a recording of the game was Stephen Newton, the goalkeeper who was stretched off after being knocked out in the first-half when the Lockmen were leading 2-1.

Now a 51-year-old father of two living in Newark, Nottinghamshire, who was 21 the day before the big match, confessed: "This is the first time I have seen it in full.

"All I remember was getting a blow on the side of the temple after 30 minutes and being taken off to hospital. Everything was just a blur but nothing could spoil a day like that.

"There were no substitute goalkeepers in those days, so one of the forwards had to go between the posts after I left the field."

Right winger Bobby Peck, aged 50, from Wychall Drive, Bushbury, whose extra-time own goal handed Whickham victory, said: "I can still see it going into the net.

"It was the biggest game of my life and a fantastic experience - except for that goal."

Tony Turpin, club secretary at the time, recalled: "It was the biggest moment in the history of the town, let alone the club.

"The whole place shut down for the day and it is great that the occasion is still remembered and celebrated so many years later, even though the result was a terrible disappointment."

Two of the Willenhall Town side emigrated to Australia and Paul Stringer, scorer of one of their goals, died in 1998. Their manager Barry Stobart was not well enough to attend the celebrations.

Don Smith, a 56-year-old father-of-three from Bloomfield Street North, Halesowen, who scored Willenhall's second goal, said: "I will never forget the noise of the crowd when we came out of the tunnel onto the pitch."