With Newcastle United, Sunderland and Middlesbrough all fighting relegation, the only chance of any silverware this season rests heavily on the shoulders of Whitley Bay FC.

And four South Tynesiders will be an integral part of the side which will travel to Wembley to play for the FA Carlsberg Vase final against Derbyshire-based Glossop North End next weekend.

The team's three strikers – Paul Chow, 28, and Lee Kerr, 22, both from Jarrow, and Phil Bell, 25, from Harton, South Shields – will all be hoping to score the winning goal at the world famous stadium in London.

And manager Ian Chandler is hoping to bring a second winner's medal back to his South Tyneside home.

Mr Chandler won the FA Vase as a player for Whitley Bay in the 2002 final at Villa Park, and he's hoping his players can do the same at Wembley.

The 41-year-old, who lives with wife Cairine and their six-year-old son Ben in Poplar Drive, Whitburn, said: "If we win, it'll be the proudest moment of my career.

"Three of my four strikers are from South Tyneside, and they're all giving me a selection headache because they're all playing well at the minute."

Leading scorer Paul says there's a healthy rivalry between him and fellow Jarrovian Lee.

"He was leading scorer last season with 36, beating me by one, but I'm beating him this season," said the AA Insurance worker.

"It's great that two lads from Jarrow will be playing at Wembley. Who would have thought?"

About 10,000 fans are expected to travel down for the final on Sunday, May 10, which kicks off at 2.30pm.


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