CHRISTIAN DIBBLE would love to follow in his father’s footsteps and be a Wembley winner.

Dibble, Wrexham’s longest serving current player, is the son of Andy who helped the Reds clinch automatic promotion from Division Three in the 2002-3 season.

Earlier in his career, former Wales international Andy helped underdogs Luton Town register a famous 3-2 victory against Arsenal in the 1988 League Cup Final at Wembley.

With Luton trailing 2-1, Andy - standing in for the injured Les Sealey - saved Nigel Winterburn’s penalty and the Hatters scored two late goals to win their first major trophy.

“To go to Wembley and come away with a winners’ medal was something else,” said Andy. “The penalty save was key but more importantly it was about the team and the spirit we had.

“I look at the Wrexham team now and spirit is something they’ve got in abundance.

“Playing at Wembley is such a fantastic occasion and I know Christian will enjoy it and he deserves it too.”

It’s Dibble Jnr’s turn to play at the famous old ground on Sunday when he will line up between the posts for Wrexham in the FA Trophy final and the 28-year-old would love to leave a winner just like his dad did.

“I have seen that video many times,” said Christian. “My dad has showed me the video all the time on Youtube, obviously he saved a penalty there.

“He always says concentrate on yourself, don’t worry about me, but I know he wants me to know how he played at Wembley and won!

“It would be great if we won there and if I managed to save a penalty and write the same story, it would be even better.

“But the main thing is winning.”

Dibble is set to line-up between the posts in the showpiece and continue his run in the side after Rob Lainton sustained a season-ending wrist injury in the goalless draw at Sunday’s opponents Bromley on March 19.

“My dad played football and I have tried to follow in his footsteps a bit,” added Christian.

“All I have done is just tried to do my best.

“If I am playing it will be an unbelievable achievement for myself to step on the pitch at Wembley to represent Wrexham.

“I have loved every minute of my time here and hopefully I will end up winning the double.”

Christian has already been to one cup final with Wrexham.

He watched on from the stands as an 11-year-old as Denis Smith’s Reds beat Southend 2-0 to win the 2005 LDV Vans Trophy.

Dad Andy was injured and loan replacement Ben Foster starred between the posts in the Welsh capital for Wrexham.

“I remember going to watch the LDV Vans Trophy final at The Millennium Stadium so I can say I have been to a major final with the club,” added Christian.

“Just the prospect of even playing at Wembley is exciting, we have managed to get that far and it is going to be a great occasion for everyone.”

And his dad has praised his son for showing great character after he came in for flak following the 6-5 home win against Dover Athletic in March.

“I was at the Dover game and it’s not nice to be a father and hearing the Wrexham fans having a pop at him,” said Andy, who is on the lookout for a new coaching job after ending his six-year stint at Cardiff City.

“It would have been easy to have got up and left but you never leave a game before the final whistle and Wrexham came back to win that day.”

Experienced keeper Lee Camp, who Dibble coached during his days at Rotherham, was brought in the following week but Reds boss Phil Parkinson kept faith with Dibble, who then produced a blinding display as Wrexham beat Stockport County to secure their place in Sunday’s final.

“Christian has showed great character and he’s also proved he’s good enough to be a number one,” added Dibble.

“Rob Lainton’s a very good goalkeeper but Christian is too and I think Wrexham are lucky, in my opinion, to have the best two keepers in the National League.

“Christian needs to think he is a number one and make the spot his own.”

Andy will be at Wembley to watch Wrexham on Sunday where the Reds will have more than 20,000 fans cheering them on.

And Christian, who celebrated his 28th birthday last week, knows how much of a part those fans have played in Wrexham’s success this season.

More than 10,000 fans were at the games against Altrincham and Stockport County while Wrexham supporters have also been in full voice at away games, including Sunday’s final game of the season at Dagenham and Redbridge.

“Seven games ago I hadn’t played at The Racecourse all season and now I have played seven in a row,” said Dibble, whose side will return to their home ground for a play-off semi-final against Notts County or Grimsby a week on Saturday.

“We have made this place a fortress this season, the fans have been great and when you hear 10,000 on the tannoy - absolutely unbelievable,” said Dibble after the 4-0 victory against Altrincham.

“That is the first time I have seen that here and it is unbelievable support.”