WEMBLEY INTERVIEW: "My Parents Are Both From Brent, It'll Be A Proud Day" - Hutchinson

NOT only did Dominic Hutchinson's parents grow up in (the London Borough of) Brent's Sudbury and Sudbury Court respectively, his Dad used to sneak into the old Wembley with his mates for a kick-about!

Now it'll be their son Dom gracing the hallowed turf for a bit of a kick-about on Sunday...perhaps with just a little more riding on it than his father's more, let's say, informal visits.

"I'm thinking about the match not the occasion but, for my family, it's going to be great to see their boy walk out in front of 40,000 or so people just down the road from where they were brought up," Hutchinson told wealdstone-fc.com, having just completed a pre-matchday (authorised!) look around inside the stadium.

"We've ticked off a few boxes in our minds by having that visit and now it's full focus on what's in front of us in terms of the match and the chance to create history for the club."

"Viva Hutchinson" sing the Stones' faithful as the 24-year-old runs down the wing at The Vale, an act he's hoping to replicate several times against Southend United at Wembley Stadium.

He explained: "I don't envy the management staff at all because a few of the boys are going to miss out on the squad and that's tough.

"It's everyone's dream to play at Wembley and you might not get that opportunity again, but that's football - the horrible and amazing sport we play. So everyone is ready to support each other, whatever their own news."

It's a reflection, says the former Watford FC academy graduate, of an exceptionally close-knit group of players.

"We love being around each other," smiled Hutchinson, who was recognised for breaking through the 100 club appearances mark at the recent End-of-Season Awards event.

"The gaffer gave us some time off after the last league game and some of the boys went away together; not for too long and we were soon ticking over again in the gym and stuff.

"It's a tight bunch. We are good friends and that will play a big part on Sunday when you're getting tired or it's a difficult moment. We will see each other through, I know it."

With Enterprise National League status secured a few weeks before season's end, and players being rotated in and out of the team to keep everyone ticking over, it's been quite a different denouement to the campaign compared to last year for Hutchinson and his teammates.

"Last season, as much as the last day was amazing it certainly wasn't fun!" Hutchinson exclaimed.

"This year we were in a comfortable position and I think that's boosted confidence in our group. Then you see the goals going in after the semi-final; seven against Hartlepool and so on.

"It's been a release of tension that's allowed us a good period of time to focus in on this one last match."

And opponents Southend are not strangers this season. The Stones pre-Valed twice at home, in both FA Cup and league action, before the Shrimpers took the spoils at Roots Hall to close out both sides' regular-season league fixtures.

"They've had a good season, but have been left disappointed by losing in the Play-Offs so they'll want something to show for it.

"We can't affect anything they do. We know what we've got in the building here can win the final. What we've shown each other during matches this season - that athleticism, our style of football, our threat on goal - will take us close and then it's about the big moments."

No moments come bigger than under the Wembley arch...and in front of nearly 15,000 Wealdstone supporters, too.

"The boys were chatting about that after our stadium visit - asking where will our fans be.

"It's quite hard to imagine that many Stones' fans in one place all together. I'm going to love seeing it.

"We hope we can send them back to The Vale with an amazing end to the season. Why cant' we?"