For most clubs it’s the trip of a lifetime, but Grimsby Town fans will be walking up Wembley Way for the second time in seven days ahead of the FA Trophy final on Sunday.
And striker Padraig Amond admits his side need look no further than the Grimsby class of 1998, as they bid to emulate their historic Wembley double.
FC Halifax Tn v Grimsby Tn
The FA Trophy Final
Wembley Stadium connected by EE
4.15pm Sunday 22 May 2016
Winning side receives £50,000 from The FA prize fund
The national stadium is a place the Mariners have become reacquainted with of late after losing on the famous stage in both 2013 and 2015, but their supporters will take away happy memories this time around regardless of the result.
That’s because Grimsby booked a place in the Football League for the first time in six years after beating Forest Green Rovers in the National League play-off final 3-1 last weekend.
Last term they lost out on promotion to Bristol Rovers while three years ago they were toppled by Wrexham in the FA Trophy final – both times on penalties.
Hotshot Amond had not been involved in any of that heartache after only joining the club last summer and his 33-goal haul has been a crucial part of Grimsby’s success.
“Not many people get to play twice in a week at Wembley and win twice in a week at Wembley”
Padraig Amond Grimsby striker
The Irishman has also swatted up on his Mariners history and knows that should they clinch more silverware at Wembley on Sunday by beating Halifax Town, it will not be an unprecedented feat.
The 1998 side toppled Northampton in the then-Division Two play-off final before seeing off Bournemouth for the Football League trophy.
And Amond said: “Not many people get to play twice in a week at Wembley and win twice in a week at Wembley. I don’t think even many England internationals would have done it because they play home and away.
“It would be a special achievement for us to do it and we could really write our name into history and emulate the Grimsby team of 1998 who did the double at Wembley as well.
“That would be a fantastic achievement and what we are aiming to do on Sunday.”
The two sides have had contrasting seasons, with Halifax now looking to end the season on a high after relegation to the National League North.
And Amond believes that the fact the pressure is off will play into the Mariners’ hands.
“I think it might be a bit of an advantage that we played at Wembley last weekend,” added Amond. “But I also think there is no pressure on us this weekend, so we can really enjoy it.
“The only pressure on us comes from ourselves. We’re going to have a lot of fans there who are going to celebrate the fact that it is Grimsby’s last game in the non-league for hopefully a number of years to come.
“We’ll enjoy it, but we want to win the game and that’s the most important thing.”
