Some engineers work at Wembley Stadium. Others play there. Jay Lovell is about to do both—just not on the same day.

The 33-year-old defender and father of two works as an escalator engineer in Hertfordshire. His company handles the installation, maintenance, and upgrades of the escalators at the national stadium. This Sunday, he was scheduled to be on duty at Wembley, ready to troubleshoot any issues during a major event.

Instead, he will be leading his team onto the pitch.

Lovell captains Cockfosters FC, a non-league side from Enfield in north London, in the FA Vase final against AFC Stoneham from Eastleigh, Hampshire. It's a moment that seemed almost impossible just a year ago.

"I remember walking around on the day of the FA Vase final last year before everyone got there," Lovell recalls. "There is a silence and you think, 'I could actually get here one day.' It's like winning the lottery—you spend the money in your head before you've won it. I never thought I'd get to Wembley."

Cockfosters booked their spot by beating Kent-based Punjab United 3-1 on aggregate in last month's semi-finals. Now, Lovell will join a select group of players who have captained a team at Wembley—a list that includes legends like Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney. When that comparison is mentioned, he laughs: "Don't put me in the same category as those two!"

His colleagues, of course, have had plenty of fun with the situation. "Now that I have actually reached the final, no-one is working," Lovell says. "All of the lads are coming to watch me. We've passed the job on to someone else. One of my bosses actually turned around and said: 'Having a two-hour break to go and play football, are you?' He's had a good bit of banter with me about it."

After more than 15 years bouncing around non-league football, Lovell's dream is finally a reality. This Sunday, he won't be checking escalators. He'll be writing his name in the history books—and hopefully lifting the FA Vase for the first time in Cockfosters' history.