By Andrew McDonnell (@AndrewSJourno)
Morpeth Town captain Keith Graydon has “never seen anything” like what happened when thousands of supporters turned out on Fair Day to celebrate their FA Vase success.
The midfielder, who played his part in the victory last month, wasn’t expecting as many people, but he soon got a surprise when the open-top bus turned the corner and headed down the town centre.
“It was fantastic to be fair, we turned up today and I didn’t think there would be that many people, but we turned the bus and when we came round, it was fantastic,” he said.
“Even when we went past people, the whole crowd started to follow the bus all the way to the stage, I have never seen anything like it.
“There was a lot of kids, which is great for Morpeth, they all had the strips on and hopefully all the kids start and come to the games with their parents and we get better crowds.
“We’ve got a really good football team, it’s a small town, but it’s a massive place, so hopefully this season, this whole town gets behind us and then we make them proud again.”
The 33-year-old claimed that the weeks after the victory at Wembley Stadium has been “a blur” as the Highwaymen finally got to celebrate their success back home in front of the town.
He added: “To be fair the last couple of weeks has been a blur, I have had a good few drinks and a good few nights out and stuff like that.
“I was sick of the sight of the lads at the end of the season because we were playing Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and now its good to see everybody again.
“That today was unbelievable.
“Its mad. I literally can’t get over how many people turned out. I think it’s unbelievable, and it goes to show that when everybody was stood there when we were on the stage.
“I just hope now that they are proud as punch for what we achieved and I hope now that our gates start going up and more people start coming to watch us up the road.”
Graydon believes the Highwaymen will be aiming for the Northern League Division One title next season, something which they narrowly missed out on last season due to a backlog of fixtures getting the better of the side.
“I don’t see any reason why not,” Graydon responded after being asked whether they could replicate the FA Vase success next season.
“I think our main aim is the title, getting the league up to Morpeth, they haven’t won the Northern League first division, so I think that that’s our main aim this season.
“The cup runs I think is great, even the League Cup and the local cups are great to win, but in a cup run, if you have a bad day you’re gone, you’re out, whereas in the league the best team wins over the whole season.”
The midfielder stated that winning the FA Vase was a “little gesture” to club chairman Ken Beattie, whose passion and enthusiasm is “unbelievable”, according to Graydon.
“Winning the Vase, I was over the moon for Ken (Beattie), I met Ken 18 months/ two years ago when I signed and he is so passionate about Morpeth, it’s unbelievable,” he said.
“He has actually tried to get me to move up to Morpeth, he loves the place and I love it and it’s been great.
“I think that trophy was for Ken, as well as the town, but mainly for Ken. You see him around and he is bursting with pride and he can’t wait to show the trophy off at every chance he gets.
“It’s great, to see someone so enthusiastic about where he’s come from, its fantastic to see in football and all the lads appreciate everything he does for them.
“Giving that (FA Vase) back to him is a little gesture from the lads to say thanks very much.”
Main Image by Chris Chambers (CJC Photo) – Official Club Photographer
