TWO Trowbridge men fulfilled a lifelong dream when they played on Wembley's hallowed turf in one of the last matches in the shadow of the famous Twin Towers.

Andrew Meaden and Neil Kirkpatrick joined others who had paid cash to the British Olympic Appeal for the honour of playing in the famous old stadium.

Kirkpatrick bid for his place in an auction organised by the Wiltshire Times and was joined by Meaden, who was born on the day England lifted the World Cup in July 1966.

Kirkpatrick said: "The whole day was simply unbelievable, I just can't describe it. Seeing my kids as ball boys, lifting the cup and going in the Wembley bath afterwards you can never beat that."

Kirkpatrick's dream of scoring a goal nearly came true, but for an exceptional save by the opposing goalkeeper.

"It was flying right in the top corner, I don't know how he saved it," he said. "I couldn't have come closer than that."

But despite not scoring, Kirkpatrick loved every minute. "At £350 it was a bargain," he said.

And despite the lack of a crowd, Meaden admitted to nerves before going out on to the Wembley turf.

"Walking out into an empty stadium was weird, but there were some people cheering, and a sound effects machine," he said. "Nobody there can claim to have been a loser, because it is just fantastic to be able to play there."

Meaden's booking came as a bit of a shock as the player has never been cautioned before in all his time playing football.

He hadn't realised Kirkpatrick had set up the yellow card until a couple of minutes later. "The ref came up to me and said: 'Don't worry about it, it was just for a bet.' Then I realised Neil was getting me back," Meaden said.

Big match diary of a football fanatic

THERE can't be many players who have played at Wembley who at 2am on the day of their game were packing match programmes into boxes, writes Andrew Meaden.

I doubt there has ever been any. I doubt whether there has ever been anyone born on the day England won the World Cup who has played beneath the Twin Towers. And then to have your son as a ballboy too !!

The winner of the Wiltshire Times/BOA bid, Neil Kirkpatrick and I managed to fill a coach which by the end of last week was looking rather like a Trowbridge Town day out. We were supplying eight ballboys (two girls), two physios, two players and the programme.

Nerves didn't come into it for me, I had been too busy before Sunday to think too much about the game, but Neil was looking slightly paler the nearer we got to Wembley.

Arrival at 11.40, and we were whisked straight into a players' briefing. An introduction to a freelance photographer lightened the tension as he did not recognise Roger Black, and thought he was the Wiltshire Times reporter.

We made our way to the dressing rooms.

The dressing rooms are basic and, I have to say, rather worn in appearance. A quick change, introduction to 14 other people and we are out in the tunnel.

Sound effects all around the stadium greeted our arrival on to a very boggy pitch, a quick rendition of God Save the Queen and it was kick-off time.

The game itself was end to end, and by half-time with both goalkeepers being kept busy (they both received a man of the match award) it was amazing it was still 0-0.

The second half saw a Kirkpatrick-Meaden Trowbridge forward line and only two superb saves by the keeper stopped us both getting on the score sheet.

Former England cricket international Dermot Reeve spoilt the party by running through the other end and scoring what was to be the winner.

With seven minutes to go another disaster: Meaden booked for the first time in his career. A blatant trip was in the eyes of referee Graham Cann a dive I am devastated. But wait, Kirky is grinning. It appears after a quiet word from the ref I had been stitched up for all the wind-ups I had printed in Trowbridge Town's programme last weekend. The whistle went and we've lost although we hadn't really everyone's a winner at this game.

A trip up the stairs to collect a medal, and then a well-earned buffet and drinks in the banqueting hall. But not before a trip to the huge plunge bath, five foot deep, boiling hot and I fell right into it, champagne in hand.

A think back to the past players who had passed before led everyone to pause. Eerie silence.

Soon it was back to the bus for a subdued journey home.

We had achieved what few people ever had, though many had dreamed of.