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Football: Hemblys targets Wembley pay day



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Published Date: 16 May 2008
ANDREW Hemblys will realise every footballer's dream when he steps out on to the Wembley turf in front of a large crowd tomorrow.
Not only that but the 30-year-old stands to pocket a whopping £100,000 if he can beat four other opponents in a game of 'keepy uppie' with a Blue Square cube, and an as yet unidentified special challenge, at the Conference play-off final between Cambridge United and Exeter City
An added ingredient is that should Hemblys win then Halifax Town would be in line for a £20,000 cash windfall.


Hemblys, who is a striker for Halifax Town supporters team, AFC Halifax, earned the right to parade his skills after winning a season-long Blue Square-backed 'keepie-uppie' competition at the Shay. His total of 39 was better than anybody else managed during the whole campaign.

That took him through to the play-offs at Hinckley United from where he clinched a place in the final.
"I actually finished eighth overall which I was pleased about considering there were supporters from the league structure's 72 clubs taking part over the season," said Hemblys.
"There is a massive incentive because of the size of the prize, but I am trying not to think about that too much.
"The main point for me is getting to Wembley. I have never been before in my life so it is going to be an amazing experience."
Juggling a football is not a problem for Hemblys, who believes his record stands in the hundreds although he admitted to "never really keeping a count"
However, it was a different matter when it came to keeping a cube under the same control.
"It is a totally different technique," he said. "If you keep it low and catch an edge or a corner, you have lost it.
"It was a lot more difficult than I thought and I had to concentrate a lot harder compared to juggling a football."
Hemblys, who has played for a number of teams in the Calderdale area, would also love to think he could win and help boost the coffers of whichever Halifax Town football club hopefully emerges from the ashes over the coming weeks
Blue Square have confirmed that the £20,000 would still go to the club despite the recent problems but added that if there was no club then there would be no cash.
Hembleys has another reason for wanting Town to continue as winning the Shay challenge won him two season tickets for the next campaign.
"The whole prize thing was an arrangement between the clubs and Blue Square, but if there is no club then there would be a problem," said Hemblys.
"Hopefully it won't come to that and it would be great to think that if I won I would be doing something to help the new Halifax Town.
"As far as the season tickets are concerned, I don't really know what is going to happen.
"There is still some uncertainty about which league any Halifax Town club would be playing in and with it being a Blue Square competition, they might not be valid if they are playing in something like the Unibond League
"But I know the lad who won from Aldershot is still getting his and they have been promoted to the Football League, so it will be a question of waiting to see what happens."
Hemblys is determined to enjoy his day and although he is feeling pretty calm about it now, he knows the pressure will be on when he steps out on to the hallowed turf.
"At the moment the nerves aren't too bad," he said.
"I believe that Cambridge and Exeter have moreorless sold their allocation of tickets so there could be a crowd of about 40,000.
"That just adds to the pressure and that is when the nerves might kick in."

The full article contains 656 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
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  • Last Updated: 17 May 2008 9:39 AM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Halifax
 
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DaveShawcross,

17/05/2008 09:06:38
Good luck Hembers - you'll have a lot of "best mates" if you win.
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