VALE FAN SHERWIN EYEING UP MORE WEMBLEY MEMORIES...
IF any Port Vale fans need a pointer about what a trip to Wembley is like, they need look no further than Phil Sherwin.
The Valiants head to Wembley this weekend for the League Two play-off final - their first visit to the national stadium for 26 years.
A 5-2 Anglo-italian Cup final defeat by Genoa in 1996 was the last time Vale graced the famous venue... and plenty has changed since that visit.
The old stadium was knocked down and replaced, and Sherwin has seen it all following both Vale and England.
In fact, he’s been to the stadium so many times, he has almost lost count of the number of trips he’s made to Wembley.
“I’ve clocked it up and I think I’ve been to Wembley 178 times, but I might have missed a few,” said Sherwin. “I was there for all three times Vale have played, when we won the Autoglass Trophy final in 1993 and then losing the play-off final to West Brom a week later.
“We were also in the last-ever Anglo-italian final, so Vale appeared at Wembley three times in three years having never been there before in our history.
“All of our games were at the old stadium, so there will be plenty of Vale fans who haven’t been to the new Wembley.
“It’s a special place to watch football and even more so that I’ll be watching my team there this weekend.
“We’re one of the smaller clubs, it’s not like being a Liverpool or Manchester City supporter when you get there virtually every year.
“We’ve had to wait 26 years to go back!”
Sherwin has plenty of highlights from his trips to the stadium, both following Vale and England.
He saw his first England match there in 1976 against Finland - and is still a regular at home and away games following Gareth Southgate’s side.
“It was great to see Vale there for the first time in 1993 for the Autoglass Trophy final (a 2-1 victory over Stockport) with 27,000 of our own fans there. That was special,” added Sherwin.
“There have been lots of highs watching England as well, one of which was the Euros semi-final against Denmark last year.
“The final was also a great occasion, although we lost. But to see England in a major final was an experience.”
Sherwin, who is Vale’s club historian and produces the matchday programme, first went to watch the Valiants in 1968.
He’s seen highs and lows through the decades following the club, and is keeping his fingers crossed that Saturday’s final against Mansfield falls into the former category.
However, he admits that the outcome could come down to one moment of magic or a mistake.
“It’s too close to call,” said the 64-year-old, from Burslem. “Someone might freeze on the day... and I’m just hoping if that’s the case then it’s Mansfield.
“Both teams are good defensively and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if it went to extra time.
“Before the season started I thought we had a chance of reaching the play-offs. It was actually disappointing not to get automatic promotion after being five points clear in third with four matches to go.
“But the players have rallied. It has been a tough season. We have had a lot of injuries and obviously we lost Darrell Clarke (due to a close personal bereavement) for a period of time.”
Sherwin says a Vale victory might well top the experience of lifting the Autoglass Trophy back in the 1990s.
And he says promotion would be fitting reward for owners Carol and Kevin Shanahan, who took over the club from Norman Smurthwaite three years’ ago.
“The club has been transformed since the Shanahans took over, so it would be brilliant if the players could win promotion for them,” said Sherwin.
“It could well be a better day than 1993 if we do it.
“Winning automatic promotion is great, but going up by winning at Wembley is even better because of the occasion.
“We’ve just got to make sure that we win now...”