Two Finals, One Day

Though I have been to FA Trophy finals and FA Vase finals at Wembley in recent years this was my first time at the double-header event where they play both on one day, which requires an early start (Vase KO 12:15), late finish (Trophy KO 16:15, finishing about 6pm if no extra time), and a sizeable gap between, thoughtfully filled by a big TV screen in each of the fan zones showing Sky’s coverage of the final round of Premiership games; the day went well, the easy route into Wembley via the train from Aylesbury, the stadium splendid under the sun with red seats and green grass gleaming, two good games with victories for the North East teams, a decent pie and a pint in between while watching Liverpool v Boro, a well-timed exit to catch the 18:22 train, and a trouble-free (if long) drive back from Aylesbury arriving in Scarborough at twenty past midnight – a long day but worth the effort.