Paul Downing finds his own way to Wembley

Downing has watched on DVD the day in 1988 when his Uncle Keith helped Wolves clinch the Sherpa Van Trophy.

Now, in the same competition but with a different name, the Saddlers man will be looking to complete a unique Downing double.

"He played at the old Wembley and I've got that game on DVD funnily enough," said Downing Jnr, whose father Adrian is the brother of the ex-Molineux midfielder and recent Albion coach.

"I've watched that one a lot and I'm sure he will be there on the day with the whole family cheering me on.

"Adrian, my dad, is very supportive. I have a very supportive family and I'm sure on the day I will have a large following.

"Keith says I have to enjoy it. I have been there before to watch a game but to play there is something totally different.

"I'm sure I will have a lot of memories and enjoyment from the occasion."

The Wembley atmosphere will be nothing new to the 23-year-old,.

He has made more than 100 Saddlers appearances since moving to the Banks's Stadium two-and-a-half years ago following his release from the Baggies, where he learned his trade partially under his uncle's tutelage.

But he admits being part of the occasion will be a whole new experience to watching England games from the stands.

It is an occasion Keith experienced 27 years ago when Wolves defeated Burnley 2-0 at the old Wembley with goals in each half from Andy Mutch and Robbie Dennison.

And it is experience his nephew now plans to savour, saying: "Being in the crowd is a lot different from being able to soak up the atmosphere and playing on the pitch.

"I am sure there will be a large following from Walsall and whoever we're playing so I'm looking forward to it.

"I went to watch an England game. It's an amazing place – the home of English football – and I just can't wait to get out and play there."

Downing was a star performer as the Saddlers sealed their place at Wembley with a goalless home draw against Preston that ensured a 2-0 aggregate victory.

And the classy centre-back is relishing the chance to play his part in a unique chapter of Saddlers history, which their appearance in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final in March their first in 127 years of existence.

He said: "For the club to get there for the first time in its history means we will remembered as a group of players that have done it together. We've got something to look forward to now.

"Ideally, we wanted to still be positive and take the game to them in the second leg but it became scrappy and to be fair to the lads we still dug in and did our jobs.

"Richard O'Donnell made a couple of saves at key times and we still managed to see the game out. There were scrambles and they hit the bar.

"They had chances and threw so much at us but, if we had been better on the ball, we would have punished them at the other end.

"We're proud of how professional we were. We had 10 days before the game and even when we won 2-0 at Deepdale we weren't carried away.

"We knew they were a good side and it was going to be a tough game. Not until the actual whistle went did we think the job was done.

"The group has been together for a number of years now so we know the club well and we're all delighted for the fans to have a chance of a day out.

"We will go there to win, not to enjoy the day. We want to win this trophy."