THE town of North Shields is getting right behind their team as they plan to send five coaches down for this weekend’s FA Vase semi-final.

While it may not be the biggest game in the clubs history, that honour going to their Amateur Cup winning side in 1969 who beat Sutton United at Wembley Stadium, the current side are looking forward to the prospect of a return to Wembley Way.

North Shields chairman Alan Matthews has said that there has been a real sense of anticipation around the town in the build up to this Saturday’s game and expects it to reach fever pitch by the time the reverse leg comes around a week tomorrow.

“The whole town of North Shields is absolutely buzzing and we have four or five buses going down on Saturday for the match,” he said.

“We won’t be going there just to get a result to take back home, we want to go there and put on a good display to show everyone how good we are.

“For this time it is probably the biggest game but we did go to the old Wembley back in 1969 for the final of the Amateur Cup which we won.

“But for the current management team and the players this is a very big game and everyone is behind them.

“It is fantastic for the club.

“It is not just the financial reward, which will go towards improving the facilities for the fans, this is the biggest competition a club in the non-league can win and everyone wants to be there.

“The four teams that have made it through to this stage all deserve to be there and I am hoping for a good game come Saturday.”

The Northern League Division One side have sold 1,500 tickets for next week’s home fixture which reaches their precautionary capacity.

The official ground capacity is 2,000 but until the club have been formally inspected by North Tyneside Council they are suspending all sales.

“For the return leg we have already sold 1,500 and we are waiting for our local authority to set the official capacity,” added Matthews.

“If they let us have 4,000 then I am sure we will have 4,000 there on the day.”