FA Vase champions in this new stadium, it doesn’t get any better than that, sunshine. This is it, this is why we play. 

Those words were spoken by the then Truro City boss Dave Leonard, looking directly into the eyes of his captain Tom Smith, after the Tinners had defeated AFC Totton 3-1 to win the 2007 FA Vase. 

The game was history-defining for several significant reasons. It was the first time a Cornish side had played at Wembley Stadium and then to reign victorious – a record that still stands unmatched to this day. 

It was also the first Vase final back at the newly rebuilt Wembley Stadium, with the famous Twin Towers consigned to rubble quite literally, replaced by a modern arch. 

A crowd of close to 28,000 saw City, then a Step Six side but with ambitions of moving up the pyramid under charismatic former chairman Kevin Heaney, against the Stags, who were one rung higher up the non-League pyramid. 

Despite the unparalleled jubilation at full-time, the game didn’t start well for City and Totton took the lead in the opening stanza when Danny Potter fired home a loose ball. 

Crucially, though, Truro levelled before the turnaround when Kevin Wills’ shot snuck in at the near post to leave the final tie delicately poised after 45 minutes. 

Totton passed up presentable chances to take the lead again before Wills made them pay with his second of the game, thus becoming the first player to score at both ends of the national stadium. 

“I enjoyed every minute of it and it was an unbelievable experience,” Wills remarked. “We deserved (to win) at the end of the day and it was an all-round team performance.”

As is the case with a 2-1 scoreline, the next goal is always vital and thankfully for those of a Truro persuasion, it was a player in a white shirt that netted. 

Joe Broad, like Wills and prolific striker Stewart Yetton had Football League experience before joining Truro, found the mark six minutes from time when he was fed by Andy Watkins. 

City were home and hosed, but Broad admitted afterwards that scoring on the big stage had caught him by surprise. 

“I didn’t have a clue what I was doing and the celebrations showed that – the first thing that came into my head was to do a stupid dance,” he revealed. 

“The bookmakers made us slight favourites but in a cup final anything can happen.”

After the final whistle, all attentions turned to City’s skipper Tom Smith, who would climb 107 steps to lift the trophy, to then spark the party of all parties for those present at the game, with an open-top bus parade around the city to follow in the coming days.

“I think about the day more than ever when I get to see some of the players to share that special time with,” Smith said.

“The memories are etched in my mind forever and I wished we could relive it again if I am honest. Dave Leonard told me to put matchsticks in my eyes and absorb everything because it will be gone in the blink of an eye.”

Leonard, who was inducted into the Truro City Hall of Fame last year, for his accomplishments whilst at the Tinners’ helm, further reflected on the Vase victory by hailing it as a moment the club’s supporters will never forget. 

“As humans we wear our emotions on our sleeve and this is fantastic for Truro City and Cornwall.

“You look around here, there’s 15,000 to 20,000 Truro supporters who have come to Wembley and we have put on a show for them. This is a match they will remember for the rest of their lives.”

Time moves quickly in football and now, nearly two decades on, only Yetton and Deba Sidhu remain part of the club’s staff. However, each and every player, staff member and supporter is immortalised and treasured for their contribution to one of Truro City’s greatest ever moments. “It brings back great memories for myself at Wembley,” revealed Yetton. “It feels like a lifetime ago, but great, great memories of that game.”

In the here and now, the Vase final of 2007 is just that, memories. But City will look to carve another chapter into the club’s storied 136-year history in a game involving AFC Totton again. 

A place in the first round of the FA Cup is up for grabs with City hoping  to get past the fourth qualifying round for just the second time ever. 

Totton, meanwhile, will be looking to cause another upset after they disposed of fallen former Football League outfit Torquay United in the second qualifying round. 

Yetton added: “We’re certainly looking forward to Saturday, as they are, no doubt, and they present a really stern challenge.”