Kevin Wilkin hoping Wembley experience will be key

Just two years ago Wrexham captain Dean Keates climbed the stairs to Wembley's upper tier and lifted the FA Trophy in front of 35,000 people. 

In the cagey affair neither the Dragons or Grimsby could be separated after 120 minutes of football. A 4-1 penalty shootout win secured the trophy for the Welsh side. 

Wrexham will step out on to the Wembley pitch once again on Sunday, now under the management of Kevin Wilkin.

The manager is hoping to use his players' experience to give them the edge as they take on North Ferriby United in another FA Trophy final. 

"A few of pour layers have been to Wembley before so they'll have that experience," he said. 

"Hopefully they'll help the young ones that are still learning."

With North Ferriby a tier below the Dragons, Conference side Wrexham are the obvious favourites to lift the trophy, but Wilkin is not underestimating the opposition. 

He explained: "We've watched them a few times so we know what their strengths are and hopefully a few of their weaknesses too.

Dean Keates with the FA Trophy in 2013

"Any club that have got this far, are a good side. So being a league below us means nothing.

"But we are always confident. No matter what game we're playing in, Wrexham are always expected to win."

Wilkin's side played Nuneaton in the build up to Sunday's final and despite falling to a 2-0 defeat, the manager feels the side are in a good position to lift silverware.

"We rested a few who have a chance of playing in the final, but the whole season we've had to  rotate so that we could challenge in both competitions.

"The good thing about Nuneaton is that we came through unscathed, we have had five or six players with knocks for a little while now, but I'm hopeful that they'll all be ready for the weekend. 

"We wanted to get back into the Football League, that now looks very unlikely. 

"But the FA Trophy is a great chance for the club to get their hands on some silverware again."