A NEWPORT steel-worker-turned-poet is getting ready to sing at Wembley Stadium ahead of this year’s FA Cup final.

Newport County AFC fan Sean Edwards, 47, of Underwood, was asked to represent his home-town team at the final on Saturday, after he hit the headlines with an FA Cup poem earlier this year.

Mr Edwards first put pen to paper when the Exiles pulled off their ‘Great Escape’ in 2017, missing the drop thanks to a late goal on the final day of the season.

A second poem followed in January 2018, A Cup Run For All, which was commissioned by the FA to commemorate Newport County’s cup run.

The club then asked him to write a poem for this season’s FA Cup 4th round replay match against Premier League team Tottenham at Wembley, called ‘Wembley Bound’. 

And now, thanks to his way with words, Mr Edwards is on his way to Wembley with 13 other representatives from clubs from all over the footballing pyramid.

The clubs chosen all gave this year’s competition a moment to remember.

Representatives from AC London, Bath City, Chelsea, Coventry City, Fleetwood Town, Framlingham Town, Hereford, Litherland REMYCA, Manchester United, Notts County, Truro City and Wigan Athletic will wear their club kits and sing FA Cup anthem Abide With Me before kick-off.

Supporting the singers will be four vocalists from the RAF. 

Mr Edwards said he was looking forward to the day but was very nervous about singing in front of so many people. 

“I’m definitely not much of a singer, that came out of the blue really,” said Mr Edwards.

“I’ve been a County fan for a long time, although to be honest I don’t get down there as much as I would like anymore.

“I remember watching them play in the Cup Winner’s Cup quarter final against German side Carl Zeiss Jena at Somerton Park.

“I wrote a poem after the ‘Great Escape’ last year, and that’s how this all came about really. I suppose I owe a lot to Mark O’Brien and Michael Flynn really.

“I was told about four or five weeks ago that I had been chosen. They sprung the singing on me after that.

After Mr Edwards is finished on the hallowed Wembley turf, he will join thousands of fans in the stands as Chelsea and Manchester United battle it out for the FA Cup.

Mr Edwards told the Argus he will be travelling up the night before to rehearse on the famous pitch.

A second rehearsal will follow in the morning before his big moment arrives. 

“It’s an indescribable feeling really,” he added. 

“I’m definitely very nervous, but it’s a good kind. It’s obviously a once-in-a-lifetime thing.

“Sometimes I feel like a bit of a fraud because I can’t get to every game now. I’ve supported them for a long time, and have seen all the highs and lows. But life’s priorities change as you get older, I suppose. 

“My wife is coming with me and will be watching me from the side-lines.

"We’re going to enjoy the game afterwards and make the most of it.

"Hopefully they won’t put us in the Manchester United end.