The engineer missing his shift at Wembley... to play there instead
TL;DR
Jay Lovell, a 33-year-old defender, will captain Cockfosters in the FA Vase final at Wembley, marking a significant moment in his semi-professional football career. He has played non-league football for over 15 years.
Key points
- Jay Lovell is a 33-year-old defender.
- He has played non-league football for over 15 years.
- Lovell will captain Cockfosters in the FA Vase final.
- The final is against AFC Stoneham.
- The match will take place at Wembley.
Mentioned in this story
Jay Lovell has played non-league football for more than 15 years [BBC Sport]
"Don't put me in the same category as those two!" says Jay Lovell, taken aback as his name is mentioned in the same breath as Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney.
The defender, 33, is set to join the former Liverpool and Manchester United captains in the history books on Sunday, by leading out a team at Wembley.
Lovell will captain Cockfosters, from Enfield in north London, in the FA Vase final against AFC Stoneham, based in the Hampshire town of Eastleigh.
The father-of-two always had plans to be at Wembley this weekend, though not quite like this.
Lovell is an escalator engineer from Hertfordshire and works for a company that has been responsible for installing, maintaining and upgrading the escalators at the national stadium.
It means he and his colleagues are required on site on the day of events in case there are any problems or issues.
Cockfosters beat Kent-based Punjab United 3-1 on aggregate over two legs in last month's semi-finals to book their place in the final.
It means Lovell will no longer be reporting to Wembley as an engineer this weekend, but instead will be looking to help his team lift the FA Vase for the first time in the club's history.
"Now that I have actually reached the final, no-one is working," Lovell tells BBC Sport.
"All of the lads are coming to watch me. We've passed the job on to someone else.
"One of my bosses actually turned around and said: 'Having a two-hour break to go and play football, are you?' He's had a good bit of banter with me about it."
'It's like winning the lottery'
After more than 15 years bouncing around non-league, Lovell remembers being on site for last year's final and thinking his chances of one day playing on the hallowed turf of Wembley were as likely as "winning the lottery".
"I remember walking around on the day of the FA Vase final last year before everyone got there," he says.
"There is a silence and you think, 'I could actually get here one day'. It's like winning the lottery - you spend the money in your head before you've won it. I never thought I'd get to Wembley.
"It is fairly emotional for me because I've worked it, I've been there and I've walked around Wembley.
"It's always been what-if, and now the what-if has come true. It still hasn't sunk in that I'll be there on 17 May playing."
'We do it for the love of the game'
When Cockfosters face AFC Stoneham of the Wessex League Premier Division on Sunday, it will be quite the change from the conditions Lovell and his team-mates have encountered over a gruelling season.
The Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division side have played more than 60 games across all competitions, with 11 of those coming between 4 April and 4 May.
"I think comparing us to even the Conference South level is ridiculous. We might be getting paid a bit of money, but we don't have half the recovery available as what they do - and our training is probably a lot different," explains the defender.
"Our run of games at the end of the season has been crazy. We're lucky we've had a big squad this year and been able to rotate a fair bit because we've had eight games in 14 days.
"When you're getting up, going to work, coming home and then going back out again to play football, it is a lot to juggle.
"It makes it all worth it, especially when you look back at some of the conditions you've played in, like -1C in December and the rain is pelting in your face, and you think, what am I doing here? I don't have to be here. I could be at home watching something on television.
"But we do it for the love of the game and look where it's got me now, walking out at Wembley at the end of the month"
Regardless of the result, Sunday will take some topping.
"I don't think you can beat it," says Lovell with a smile. "It's the pinnacle, isn't it?"
Q&A
Who is Jay Lovell and what is his football background?
Jay Lovell is a 33-year-old defender who has played non-league football for over 15 years and is currently set to captain Cockfosters in the FA Vase final.
What teams are playing in the FA Vase final at Wembley?
The FA Vase final at Wembley will feature Cockfosters, captained by Jay Lovell, against AFC Stoneham from Eastleigh.
What is the significance of Jay Lovell playing at Wembley?
Playing at Wembley is a significant milestone for Jay Lovell as it places him alongside notable players like Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney in the history of the venue.
When is the FA Vase final taking place?
The FA Vase final is scheduled to take place on Sunday.
