Matt Walwyn, son of City legend Keith, is bound for Wembley

9:49am Thursday 8th May 2008

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MATTHEW Walywn - the son of former York City legend Keith - is targeting Wembley glory this weekend.

The 17-year-old striker will walk out at the home of English football on Sunday having fired tiny Preston outfit Kirkham and Wesham into the final of the FA Vase, where they will meet Lowestoft Town.

Super-sub Matthew scored late goals in both semi-final legs to secure a 4-2 aggregate victory over Needham Market.

Like father Keith, who scored 140 times during six prolific seasons with the Minstermen from 1981 to 1987, he has become an invaluable goal source for Kirkham, who have just ended their first North West Counties League season with promotion as division two runners-up.

Matthew broke into the first team squad before Christmas and has scored nine goals in just six starts, including a hat-trick during a league match at Darwen.

The teenage A'-level student is expected to start Sunday's big match on the bench but is almost certain to figure at some stage and is delighted to be part of an historic occasion.

He said: "Going to Wembley will be an amazing feeling. I've had to put it to the back of my mind because my exams are coming up but I will be able to concentrate on football this weekend before going back to revision on Monday.

"To score in the semi-final matches, especially the second one, was very special. We knew we'd done it then and it was a great feeling seeing what it meant to the players - some had tears in their eyes."

The day will also represent a huge reward for Matthew after he made the difficult decision to turn down a contract at Football League club Bury following a successful trial last summer and complete his PE, Biology and Business Studies A'-levels instead while turning out for Kirkham, who were playing West Lancashire League football on a council-owned parks pitch until two seasons ago.

Bury contacted the former Blackburn Rovers academy player again at Christmas to say a contract would still be waiting for him in July although it remains to be seen whether that agreement will be binding following the departure of managerial team Chris Casper and Keith Alexander.

League Two rivals Macclesfield have since employed Alexander, however, and Czech side FK Most, where former York City midfielder Byron Webster is currently plying his trade, have also expressed an interest.

Matthew decided to leave the Premier League club Blackburn with 18 months of his schoolboy contract still to run, having found it difficult to concentrate on football in the aftermath of his father's death.

But he has rekindled his love for the game at Kirkham and admitted he would like to follow in the footsteps of his father by making the pro grade.

"That would be nice," he said. "But I'm keeping my options open and have applied for business management courses at University."

City great Keith sadly died at the age of 47 during a heart operation in 2003 but his widow Liz is "immensely proud" Matthew is now making his mark in the game.

At 17, he is just two inches short of his dad's bustling 6ft 2ins frame but, despite physical similarities, Liz feels her son is a very different player to her husband.

She said: "I've noticed a few similarities recently in terms of the way Matthew walks on to the pitch, the way he stands with his hands on his hips and some of the facial expressions he makes. They are a bit different in playing style though.

"No disrespect to Keith but he did not have the good coaching from a young age that Matthew had at Blackburn. Keith had a rough, get-at-them attitude whereas Matthew's a natural footballer, who is more cultured and stylish."

About the prospect of watching Matthew at Wembley, she added: "I don't think it's hit me properly yet but I'm sure it will do when I see him walking on to the pitch and there will be a few tears.

"It's been hard with his dad not being here to share in it all. Keith never got the opportunity to play at Wembley and it's every pro's dream let alone that of a 17-year-old playing for a non-League team.

"I'd like to think Keith might be looking down on Sunday though because he would certainly have been in his element if he was still here."