Morpeth Town's bionic man Chris Swailes aims for third Vase

Swailes has retired and returned to the game twice. A decade ago a serious foot injury resulted in him having a six-inch screw inserted in his heel. 

And the former Ipswich Town, Bury and Rotherham United defender was forced to stop again two years ago following four heart operations, the final one involving keyhole surgery in which two valves were put in.

He also incurred the wrath of wife Louise in 2009, when he decided he was to hang up his boots following Hamilton Academical’s promotion to the Scottish Premier League and move to Gran Canaria.

Louise had found a job, their three children had places in schools and their house had been rented out.

But manager Billy Reid convinced Swailes he could cut it in the top-flight and he decided to stay put.

"It was seven years ago and the wife still hasn’t forgiven me," he laughs.

But Swailes – who won The FA Vase as a 22-year-old and again aged 41 – has absolutely no intention of hanging up his boots any time soon and is as enthusiastic as ever for the weekend.

"Something serious might be what makes me stop for good, but I survived the previous two, so I don’t know. The game will probably have to retire me," he said.

"I feel brilliant at the moment, I’m absolutely loving it. I’m not as quick as I was, but what I lack in pace I make up for upstairs.

Swailes in FA Vase semi-final action for Dunston UTS back in 2012

"I know what’s going to happen before it does. I’ve seen the pass that needs to be played 20,000 times before, so that’s a huge advantage. My brain versus a 20-odd year-old’s pace, I back myself.

"I broke my heel in 2005-06 and I was finished. I had a six-inch screw put in my foot and I didn’t have time to get fit. 

"Then there became no pressure to be fit because I was looking around for coaching jobs. Then after three or four months I went for a run and it felt good. I knew a lad at Hamilton and he helped me get a trial there. It was successful and I moved up there.

"Then two years ago I retired again because I had heart problems. I had four operations.

"I knew in the warm-up before a game that my breathing wasn’t right. I had been struggling to walk up the stairs without being out of breath. I went out on the pitch and I couldn’t really do the warm-up. 

"But I started the game and straight away I had to come off. I couldn’t breathe, it was quite scary. 

"I was taken straight to hospital, had lots of tests and they found I had an erratic heartbeat, atrial fibrillation. But I’m right as rain now."

Swailes was part of the Dunston UTS side who won The Vase at Wembley four years ago

Swailes' love affair with The Vase began in 1992 when he was an unused substitute in Bridlington Town’s victory at Wembley.

But he had to wait almost 20 years for his first chance to walk out at the national stadium when Dunston UTS won the same competition in 2012.

And the Gateshead-born centre-half is keen to remind his Morpeth Town team-mates not to take anything for granted.

"When I was playing for Bridlington, I was 22 and you think you are going to get to finals all the time and play at Wembley," he added. 

"But it doesn’t happen like that and I had to wait until I was 41 to play there again. 

"Playing at Wembley is not a regular occurrence and that is always mentioned in team meetings. 

"We’ve got a few lads who have played at Wembley before like Chris Read and Keith Graydon, they know what it means to play there, but not everyone does and I don’t want them to let the opportunity slip.

"We’re doing well in the league and it’s great to still be involved in The Vase. We are in three cups and if we are to win something then we hope it’s The Vase."