Council rejects football fans' Wembley trip plea

The team booked its place at Wembley after a historic 5-4 penalty shoot-out win over Rochdale in April

Councillors have refused to help pay towards travel costs for football fans heading to Wembley for the FA Trophy final.

Spennymoor Town FC had appealed for donations towards coach travel to help as many locals as possible attend their historic fixture against Aldershot Town on 11 May.

Members of County Durham's Spennymoor Town Council were asked to consider allocating up to £20,000 from its general reserves for the "Back the Fans and Pack the Stands" campaign.

The council, which voted against the plea, said it was "already working on plans for a civic reception and other celebrations in the town" should the Moors win.

Spennymoor's partnerships manager Stephen Gilling said he wanted everyone from the "council to the corner shop" to chip in to make travel affordable.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that asking local businesses and organisations to pay for coaches would help "create a wall of black and white to roar the players on".

The team booked its place in the final after a historic 5-4 penalty shoot-out win over Rochdale in April, and next month's showdown will mark the National League North team's second visit to Wembley since winning the FA Vase in 2013.

Back then, several thousand fans travelled to witness their side's 2-1 win over Tunbridge Wells, after which an open-top bus parade made its way through the town's bunting-covered streets.

However, despite a town council report having revealed that a £10,000 travel subsidy and another £10,000 towards victory celebrations would cost less than two pound per household, councillors voted not to contribute.

Confirming that it continued to support Spennymoor Town FC's trophy efforts, a spokesperson for the council said: "We are already working on plans for a civic reception and other celebrations in the town to mark the Moors' triumphant return.

"Further details will be published after 11 May."