HALESOWEN’S Wembley wannabes have been urged to ‘forget the W word’ by boss Paul Smith – and focus on the ‘w for winning’ in arguably the biggest game in the club’s history this weekend.

Town visit Concord Rangers on Saturday for their long-awaited, pandemic-delayed FA Trophy semi-final, six months after it was originally scheduled, with the winners guaranteed a Wembley final.

Halesowen, who play at the fourth level of non-league in Southern One Central, have already stunned top-tier sides Halifax, Maidenhead and Barnet to reach the last four.

And now Smith is hopeful of causing another shock at National League South outfit Concord – but admits his players need to put the reward on offer out of their minds.

Smith has never been to Wembley, coming close when reaching the FA Vase semi-finals as boss of Bromsgrove Sporting in 2017, and none of his players have played on the hallowed turf either.

Halesowen News: Paul Smith has previously managed Alvechurch, Bromsgrove Sporting and Redditch United before joining Halesowen last year.Paul Smith has previously managed Alvechurch, Bromsgrove Sporting and Redditch United before joining Halesowen last year.

“It would be new territory for us all but it’s really important – and I’ve stressed it to the boys all this week – that we keep our feet on the ground and don’t think too far ahead,” he told the News.

“We can think about those kind of things if we pull off another shock and manage to beat Concord.

“At the moment it’s important we don’t really think about the ‘W’ word, just concentrate on the job at hand and hopefully the rest will take care of itself.”

The semi-final was scheduled to be played over two legs in March but lockdown scuppered that and it has been reduced to a single game, with Halesowen randomly drawn away.

The game will be played behind closed doors, denying Yeltz supporters the chance of a repeat of the memorable celebrations at Halifax and Barnet earlier in their run.

Halesowen News: Halesowen players and fans celebrate a win at Halifax earlier in their FA Trophy run. Picture: Matt Russell.Halesowen players and fans celebrate a win at Halifax earlier in their FA Trophy run. Picture: Matt Russell.

But Halesowen hope to be able to stream the game on live screens at The Grove for 600 fans to watch – and if they reach the final, fans are likely to be allowed into Wembley to watch it.

“It’s a game we weren’t sure whether it was going to happen or go ahead,” added Smith.

“We’ve got to temper our disappointment that one, fans aren’t allowed, two, it’s gone from a two-legged tie to a single tie and three, for us to lose home advantage.

“We’re all devastated the fans can’t go and we’ll be going the extra mile to see if we can pull off another unbelievable win for them.

“They’ve been our 12th man at Halifax and Barnet especially, we took 1,000 to one and 700 to the other and they were outstanding for us.

“It’s a crying shame they won’t get to be at the semi-final but we’ll be doing everything we can to try to get them to a final at Wembley.

“They might not be able to get down to Canvey Island with us – but hopefully they will be able to make a hell of a racket together at our ground. It’s not ideal but it’s better than nothing.”

Halesowen News: Celebrations after the win at Barnet that put Halesowen into the semi-finals.Celebrations after the win at Barnet that put Halesowen into the semi-finals.

While higher-league Concord will be favourites to book a final date against either Notts County or Harrogate Town, Smith says there are plenty of reasons for optimism.

He has kept the majority of his squad together over the summer although striker Montel Gibson left for Football League side Grimsby and defender Jordan Piggott joined National League club Solihull.

Smith added: “We can take great strength in the wins at Maidenhead, at Halifax and at Barnet, and know that we’ve been to these sides and won so there’s no reason we can’t go to Concord and win.

“I think Concord have only got four or five players remaining from last season. I’ve kept 17 of 19 out of the squad that has come through this whole tournament so it’s not a new process.

“I think that’s a big plus – everyone knows each other’s game, everyone knows the way we play so it’s a nice settled squad.

“They are huge favourites, that can’t be hidden – they are a Step 2 side, we are a Step 4 side, we are playing at their place, a three-and-a-half hour drive down there.

“If we manage to pull off the miraculous and beat them, this would stand the test of time in non-league history, not only a Step 4 side getting to the final but the sides we’ve beaten along the way.”