Purkiss scored at Wembley - but didn't see it!
There were more than 42,600 people who saw Ben Purkiss score at Wembley – but one man who didn't was the defender himself.
The Walsall full-back will be heading to Wembley for the third time in his career when the Saddlers face Bristol City in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final.
But the 30-year-old has bitter-sweet memories of his last appearance under the Wembley Arch.
Playing for York City in the 2010 Conference Premier play-off final against Oxford United. He found the net, but had already looked away in exasperation after misjudging a cross into the box.
Without Purkiss realising, Oxford keeper Ryan Clarke had done exactly the same. He somehow fumbled the hanging cross and the ball nestled in the net.
While the 42,669 crowd – the largest attendance for a Conference play-off – cheered or groaned, Purkiss was left trying to watch the replays on Wembley's big screens to see what had happened.
Having fallen 2-0 behind after just 20 minutes with former Saddlers striker James Constable among the scorers, Purkiss' goal gave York renewed hope but a last-minute strike ensured a 3-1 win for Oxford.
He said: "I was getting forward down the right. I put a ball in and to be honest it was not the greatest ball in the world, so I turned away.
"The next thing I know, everyone is cheering because the ball is in the back of the net. I did not know what had happened.
"When Oxford were taking their kick-off, I'm watching what happened on the big screen, trying to focus half on the game and half on whether I had scored at Wembley!
"I ended up at Oxford the following season and they ended up crediting me with the goal because it looked better coming from me than their keeper making a mistake.
"I do try and claim it but somewhat light-heartedly!"
The goal could not disguise the sense of disappointment as the former Sheffield United youth player suffered second successive Wembley heartbreak.
The previous May, he had been part of York's side in the FA Trophy final, only for Stevenage to spoil the fairytale with a 2-0 win. Purkiss admitted he will be wiser for those experiences.
Playing the game, rather than being caught up in the occasion of Walsall's first Wembley date in their 127-year history, will be crucial, he says.
"I think you have to go to win the game," added the full-back who joined Walsall in 2012 from Hereford United. "My two experiences at Wembley before the game have been brilliant.
However, we have lost both times and it is a rough experience. I have sat there and watched the other team go and celebrate.
"Those things stick in your memory and we have got to go and win the game – it is not a day out. We want to win."
