Whitstable Town step onto the hallowed turf of Wembley this weekend looking to become just the second Kent side to lift the FA Vase some 25 years after Deal Town’s triumph with striker Harvey Smith dreaming of success.

Back in 2000, the goal scoring hero was Roly Graham, and this Sunday 22-year-old striker Harvey Smith has dreams of emulating the midfielder as the Oystermen face AFC Whyteleafe for the same trophy. 

KSN travelled to the Belmont to meet the striker who has been a mainstay of Jamie Coyle’s side’s run to the Final and he told us, “It’s only sunk in really this week what we have achieved and that we’re playing at Wembley this weekend!”

“I know it’s been a few weeks since we actually got through and it honestly didn’t feel real at the time.” 

“Now though it’s less than a week away and it’s sunk in proper now and everyone in the camp is buzzing!” 

“I think having so many League games to play after the Semi Final helped us focus as we didn’t have much time to actually celebrate us getting through because we were straight back into League action.”

“It also encouraged us as well as the results kept going our way in those last League games – they kept us on a good run and helped us almost tuck away the Wembley thoughts.” 

“When you’re playing so many games in a short period of time, everyone becomes naturally more together as you see each other more often and there’s less “off” days as some of the boys have been at football more than work, so you see each other pretty much every other day!”

“We weren’t looking forward to playing so many games in such a short period of time, but I think it hasn’t turned out too bad!!!” 

Smith will go out onto the Wembley pitch on Sunday looking to add to his tally of twelve goals this season. “It’s at Wembley so of you course you want to score, but I know that I have to take it as any other game, but I think if you try to force it to happen, it won’t happen, so we have to play it as any other game, especially the front three and we have to play as if it was just a League game, and the goal will come hopefully.” 

Smith’s family have graced the Wembley turf in the past as he told us, “My cousin, Ryan Flack, was in the Cray Valley side that played in the Final a few years back, and he’s told me that I must take it all in and try to play your normal game, enjoy the moment and don’t let it go and take every single bit in, even when you walk out for the warm-up.”

“He’s also told me to stay on the pitch as long as possible – he’s buzzing as well and will be with the rest of the family in the stands.” 

“The backing we’re going to have will be amazing – our supporters have been brilliant. I’ve been here two seasons now and the fans have backed us all the way, even on a cold Tuesday night when we have had over three hundred in the crowd.”

“But now we have more coming in because of the success that we have had and are enjoying which is amazing!”