Alan Casey says he will get a buzz of excitement when he represents a team from Carlisle in the FA People’s Cup Grand Final.

The Carlisle City captain will play for Harraby Catholic Club at the finals this weekend alongside his team-mates, who include Mark Boyd and another one-time Carlisle United man Andrew Douglas.

They secured their place at the final last month after coming out on top in the Males Vets [Over-35s] category semi-stage stage in Leeds.

And with the winners of the event due to be presented with the trophy at half-time of this season’s FA Cup final between Chelsea and Arsenal next month, Casey is looking forward to getting the chance to win a trip to Wembley.

He said: “When we were watching the semi-finals last weekend, I thought we could be walking out at the final. It sorts of gives you that little kick on.

“Even at whatever age we are, that stuff is still exciting. You still get that buzz of thinking ‘I could be walking out at Wembley’ on FA Cup final day at half-time. So, I think there is a bit of motivation there.

“We have a little WhatsApp group. Obviously, there is a bit of stick flying about but we also say to each other ‘come on boys’ because we all want to make it down to Wembley.”

The team has plenty of familiar faces for those that follow Cumbrian football,both at professional and non-league level.

“We knew we had some good players with Skip [Boyd] being an ex-professional and Andy Douglas was with Carlisle for a few years,” Casey said.

“Simon Tucker has sort of been around non-league and then there is myself, Andrew Casson and Liam Gray have all played at this sort of level.

“So, we knew we had a good team going into it. And then, when we saw the competition we were up against, we sort of fancied ourselves.”

The side have already faced some former professionals and will expect to come up against some more well-known names from football’s recent past over the finals weekend, which will take place across the Bank Holiday weekend in Birmingham.

But Casey admits there is also a social aspect to playing with the team.

“It is an excuse for a few of us to get a night away. It is just something to look forward to,” he added.

“Some of the teams we have played against, like the team we played in the final in Leeds, had a couple of ex-professionals with them, like a lad called Daryl Clare who used to play with Northampton.

"So, we are assuming in the final we will be coming up against some quality opposition. We are under no illusions. We know it is going to be tough.

"But we do fancy our chances. With the teams we have beaten and the teams we have played against, we more than fancy our chances.”

The team is managed by Andrew Hewson.