AS he prepares to lead a team out at Wembley for the first time as a manager, Darlington boss Mark Cooper hopes his own experience of FA Trophy heartache can help spur his Darlington squad on to victory.

The boss is aware that, on the big occasion, some players can ‘freeze’, something that can prevent them from playing to their potential, which Cooper says happened to his Tamworth team-mates in 2003.

Playing in the Trophy final, his team were strong favourites against minnows Burscough, but he ended up on the losing side in a 2-1 defeat. He at least, though managed to score one of his trademark free-kicks.

Two years earlier Quakers’ boss was at Forest Green Rovers, but like four of his players today, he was cuptied and could only watch as his side were beaten 1-0 by Canvey Island.

Both those finals were played at Villa Park as the new Wembley stadium was in the process of being built.

Quakers’ midfielder Marc Bridge-Wilkinson is the only member of Cooper’s squad to have played at the new Wembley, he was a part of the Carlisle team beaten 4-1 in last season’s Johnston’s Paint Trophy final.

Cooper has revealed that he has used Bridge- Wilkinson’s experience, as well as his own, as an example to his players and Darlington’s boss hopes that will motivate them to go on and win.

“I’ve experienced a Trophy final before, not a very nice one,” Cooper recalled.

“I scored, but we lost. I don’t remember much about the day and I think if you do lose a major final, it’s not a nice memory. Nobody remembers the team that loses.

“We didn’t turn up that day and that’s a message I want to put across to the players – nobody will remember the team that loses.

“We’ve got a few experienced players so that helps. Marc Bridge- Wilkinson played there last year and had a terrible experience so we’ve used him as an example of how it feels to go there and be a loser and a flop.

“In front of the group I asked him what it was like and he spoke about what a bad feeling it was like to lose the way they did on the big day. They got hammered 4-1 and it was a horrible day for them and we don’t want that.”

The build-up to today’s game has seen Darlington players measured for cup final suits as well as being the focus of increased media attention, but Cooper is determined his players will not be distracted.

He said: “You see teams go to Wembley and they freeze.

So we’ve been using that with Bridge-Wilkinson as a bit of a tool for the players, that it’s all very well going there looking nice in your suit and carnation, waving to your family.

“But you’ve got to make sure you win the game, then you can do as much waving and celebrating after the game.

“It’s all about the game for me, that’s what matters.

First and foremost they’ve got to do it for themselves and make sure they get their own part of it right.

“If they do that and we win, then it’s a fantastic day for everyone.

“You have to actually go and play well. Once they go on to the pitch and the players have got all the information they need to go and carry it out.

“They’ve got to give every ounce of sweat, blood they’ve got to make sure they get the Trophy.”

Despite finishing seven points outside the play-offs, in seventh, Cooper is still proud of what his players have achieved and hopes they can repay the support the fans have shown.

“They’ve showed a lot of character. I think we’ve under-achieved this season in the league,” Cooper said.

“But the bonus is we’ve got to a major final, and we’re going to make the most of that by trying to make sure we win.

“I don’t want to be unlucky either. I’d hate to play well there and get beat, then hear everyone say you were unlucky. I’d much rather play crap and win.

“I’ve told them this week, nobody remembers the losers, only the winners.

Don’t be a loser, be a winner.”