GRAEME Armstrong has experienced the highs and lows of football during a goal-laden career spanning three decades.
But even at the age of 37, as his days as a player come to an end, the Hebburn Town striker is preparing himself for a new experience.
Despite scoring goals for the likes of Dunston UTS, Gateshead, Darlington and South Shields, Armstrong has yet to experience walking out at Wembley Stadium.
That will all change when he is part of the Hebburn squad that will face Northern League rivals Consett in the 2019-20 FA Vase final tomorrow afternoon.
Armstrong is relishing the prospect of achieving a boyhood dream and is hoping to repay his club for their faith by helping them become the tenth north-east club to experience success in the competition.
Surreal
He told The NLP: “It’s definitely up there with the best moments in my career.
“It’s Wembley, the home of football and there is the opportunity to experience that even at my age.
“You see it on the television, it’s surreal thinking about walking out there.
“Obviously, it’s huge for the club, but it’s massive for everyone involved to be playing at Wembley.
“I have had a career littered with promotions and trophies so to finish at Wembley representing a phenomenal football club would be an amazing experience.
“To go from a team that won the second division to a club that are promoted into the Northern Premier League and reach a Vase final, with the prospect of another one in a few weeks, is a remarkable achievement.
“Now we have to get out there and do what we have to do to bring more success to the club and bring the FA Vase back to Hebburn.”
Armstrong revealed his disappointment over the decision to hold the final behind closed doors.
Armchairs
The demand for tickets at both Consett and Hebburn would have been great had the fixture taken place in any ‘normal’ season.
But the impact of the pandemic – and the government’s decision not to use Non-League Finals Day as a test event for the return of fans – means that supporters will be confined to their armchairs.
“We are gutted the supporters aren’t there,” explained the striker. “It won’t be the same without them or our families. You want to share the Wembley experience with both of them.
“This will be one of the greatest moments in the club’s history so it’s hard to not feel sorry for the supporters because they can’t be there to see it.
“It’s lovely getting there, but it means absolutely nothing if we don’t win.
“We are very focused on what we have to do and that is getting the best result to give the supporters something to shout about from home.”
