COUNTY V YORK (FA Trophy final, Wembley, Saturday, KO 3pm)
FOOTBALL may be a team sport but Wembley Stadium has seen several individuals produce fairytale stories and few County fans would bet against 21-year old Jake Harris writing his name in the history books on Satur-day.
From Ossie’s Dream in ’81 to Cantona’s curler in ’96, certain stars have always had the ability to capture the hearts of their supporters on the biggest stage.
And while it’s the starting XI who beam with pride as they walk the Wembley tunnel, substitutes like Ian Wright have often stolen the headlines in cup finals with heroics late in the game.
All the above examples fit the picture with regard to Newport County’s super sub Jake Harris, a player who has done more than most to get the Exiles to the Promised Land.
Coming back from two serious knee injuries the youngster has been a revelation in front of goal for County this season, scoring six times in five appearances from the bench in cup competitions.
Harris has incredibly scored ten goals this term despite only starting twice and his amazing double at Northwich Victoria brought County back from the dead after they had trailed 2-0 in the quarter final, Nat Jarvis’ injury time winner putting them through.
That was merely a case of ‘same again’ as in the previous round Harris scored twice in a deadlocked game to give County a 3-1 away win at Worksop, despite only coming on with ten minutes remaining.
However, the man with the Midas touch has barely played since the quarter final, suffering a broken nose that required surgery and then a thigh strain as his injury nightmare resurfaced.
Harris should be fit for Saturday and confesses he feels like it is his destiny to continue his cup heroics.
“It’s a dream come true, the biggest thing you can do as a player, to play in a cup final at Wembley,” he said.
“Luckily my goals have been helpful in us getting there, even though it’s been about the whole squad and hopefully it’s meant to be that if I get the chance, I can score another one.”
Harris was one of the first signings made by former manager Dean Holdsworth in 2010, following a recommendation by Tim Harris, after shining in the Weston-super-Mare U19 side.
However, he spent the majority of the next two years sidelined by serious knee injuries, making his rise to prominence all the more impressive.
“The staff and everyone stuck by me, Tim Harris especially. They have always stuck by me through the injuries, but I couldn’t have imagined it would go so well for me as it has,” he said. “The injuries recently have been a killer, it was awful not being able to play a part in keeping us up but now I want to grasp the chance at Wembley.
“I want to end the season on a high and then the objective for next season is clear, I want to get myself into the team and stay there.”
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