Thousands cheer Whitley Bay to historic win at Wembley
May 11 2009 by Sam Wood, The Journal
WHITLEY Bay went where no North East football team has gone before yesterday to triumph at the sun-drenched new Wembley Stadium.
Thousands of fans descended on the capital to cheer on their local heroes, with around 7,000 making the journey to watch the team lift the FA Vase and outclass North West side Glossop North End.
First-half goals from man of the match Lee Kerr and number 10 Paul Chow were enough to see the Bay home.
The fans enjoyed their day in the sun as a North East team appeared at the new Wembley for the first time in a cup final.
The atmosphere down Wembley Way before the game was friendly as fans congregated around the Bobby Moore memorial statue outside the ground.
And inside Wembley the Mexican waves spread around the ground as fans provided a first-class atmosphere as the team did the region proud.
Among the fans celebrating at the end was John Scott of St Mary’s Avenue, Whitley Bay. The 64-year-old said: “Its absolutely brilliant it has been a really special game to be here for the lads have done the town proud.
“The Premier League needs to learn something from the local clubs, I have been to lots of the games this season and it has been brilliant, hopefully Newcastle can learn something from this.”
Bay won the FA Vase back in 2002 at Villa Park, defeating Tiptree, and have also enjoyed big days in the FA Cup. During the 1989/90 season they beat Preston North End 2-0 at Hillheads before bowing out to Rochdale at Spotland in round three.
Yesterday’s victory was worth £20,000 to the club which received massive support from fans in Whitley Bay as well as the wider region in the build-up to the historic game.
Yesterday Scott Hawdon, 19, from Blakelaw, Newcastle said: “It’s a been a great turn-out from the fans, I’m sure that helped the players, its great to see so many here to support Whitley Bay and its an awesome feeling now that we have won.”
Paul Miller, 29, from Fenham, Newcastle said: “The fact that it was here at Wembley has made the day so special. I’ve been to Wembley twice before to see Newcastle and both times they lost so it was nice for the team to win this afternoon.” And Paul Hamm, 19, of Rowlands Gill, Gateshead: “Its really good, the lads did so well and made us all proud, it’s just been a great day.”
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