A SOUTH Lakeland footballer will go down in Wembley folklore after scoring a 25-yard screamer to secure the non-league equivalent of the FA Cup.

Flookburgh resident Jason Walker, star striker for Barrow AFC, clinched their FA Trophy Final tie with his wonder goal two minutes into extra time, beating Blue Square Premier League champions Stevenage Borough 2-1.

His stunning strike meant the team returned home with the coveted cup 20 years after the club’s memorable 3-0 win over Leek Town, becoming the first team to win it at both the old and new Wembley stadiums in the process.

Walker, 26, said: “I keep watching the goal on Sky Plus and I get goose bumps everytime. I have never scored a goal that important. I didn’t have a shot all game so when the ball came to me I thought I’d better have a shot and see what happens, and luckily it went in.

“I can never remember the celebrations but, having watched it again, I went straight towards where my family were sat. It was an unbelievable feeling - I can’t describe how I felt.”

Walker made a name for himself playing with Grange until 14, when he signed for Cartmel and then moved to Scottish club Dundee aged 16, where he spent four seasons before heading to Greenock Morton and then back down the country to Morecambe, scoring on his first team debut.

He joined the Bluebirds in 2007 and again scored on his debut, and this season he has racked up 22 goals.

Describing the Wembley experience, Walker said: “I went down with the chairman a week before so I got a bit used to it then, and as a team we visited on Friday, so that meant it wasn’t as daunting as it might have been. The pitch was fine.

“To be honest, I didn’t feel I had the best of games but I was up against the champions of our league and they had 27 clean sheets this season so they obviously have a strong defence.”