It's ten years this week since Guiseley Football Club's FA Vase triumph in a replay in front of thousands of fans at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane ground.

It took Guiseley AFC two attempts to win the FA Vase - but in doing so they provided many happy memories for the thousands of Aireborough folk who followed them.

After a thrilling 4-4 draw against Gresley in front of more than 11,000 spectators at the famous twin towers of Wembley, Guiseley lifted the trophy with a 3-1 win at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane.

It had been a hectic week for all concerned. The club had just claimed the Weekly Wynner League title to get promotion to the HFS Loans League, followed by the trip to Wembley.

The streets of Guiseley were almost empty and shops reported quiet trade as thousands of fans in a seemingly unending convoy of coaches left Aireborough for London. Some shops closed early because trade was so poor, and one shopkeeper even remarked that he had never seen the streets of Aireborough so busy so early in the morning as fans set off to make the trip down south.

Their trip was followed by an open topped bus ride around Rawdon, Yeadon and Guiseley on the Sunday morning as hundreds of fans lined the streets. A civic reception with the Lord Mayor of Leeds took place at Leeds Civic Hall on the Sunday evening and then it was off to Bramall Lane on Tuesday.

It really was a family occasion, with people of all ages and backgrounds coming together to support their teams - from babes in arms to pensioners, they were all there to cheer Guiseley on.

Young footballers from local clubs Otley Express, Guiseley Dynamo, Guiseley Gremlins, Burley Juniors and Westbrook Wanderers all went down to Wembley.

Many youths had their faces painted and wore policemen's helmets bearing the words 'Gordon Rayner's Barmy Army' after the team's manager. Some did the conga down the aisles and others did the Mexican wave.

Whatever the result, Guiseley folk were certainly out to enjoy themselves, win, lose or draw.

Manager Gordon Rayner was full of praise for Guiseley's support. He told the Wharfedale Observer at the time: "The support has been tremendous all season. They have followed us up and down the country and it is just a pity we did not win for them at Wembley."

Executive committee member David Brotherton added: "The fans have been fantastic. They really stirred the side up, especially when they were down. They were a credit to Guiseley and the area."

Guiseley folk were not disappointed at Wembley, with the game providing non-stop excitement. They were soon lifting the roof as their team raced into a three-goal lead after half-an-hour, with two goals from Mark Tennison and one from Dean Walling. But Gresley had other ideas and fought back to take the game into extra time. When Gresley took the lead through a 95th minute penalty, it looked like the long trip had been in vain.

But the Guiseley fans got behind their team, and were rewarded by a last-minute equaliser by midfielder Allan Roberts. After the match, he dedicated the goal to his sister Mandy, who had tragically died in the Bradford City fire disaster.

Guiseley players got to walk up the famous Wembley steps, and shake the hand of soccer legend Sir Stanley Matthews.

After the thrills and drama of Wembley, many thought the replay would be an anti-climax. How wrong could they be?

The kick-off was put back by 20 minutes to allow the crowds of people held up on the motorway time to get into the ground. The atmosphere was electric as Guiseley produced wave after wave of attack, but it was Gresley who took a shock lead. Guiseley equalised within two minutes through leading scorer Tennison as the team fought like demons to gain the prize that somehow eluded them at Wembley.

Further goals from Dean Walling and Peter Atkinson sent the Guiseley contingent wild.

Wharfedale Observer sports editor Rachel O'Connor, said the triumph proved to be the high point of Guiseley AFC's history.

"Those were heady days," she said. "In 1991 I sat with my daughter and nephews in the crowd to savour the atmosphere, as they had never been to Wembley before.

"It was a brilliant day. Loads of coaches went down - it makes you wonder where all the fans are now in the team's hour of need."

She said a lasting memory of Bramall Lane was the way both sets of players and supporters showed their appreciation for each other. The players

applauded each other's supporters,

victorious Guiseley fans found time to

commiserate with the Gresley manager and players and Gresley supporters congratulated the Guiseley throng as they made their way to their cars and coaches after the game. It was truly a sporting occasion.

The fans' euphoria of that day has never been repeated. The following year, Guiseley reached Wembley again, only to be defeated.

The following years have seen Guiseley struggle and planning problems making it difficult to renovate their dilapidated Nethermoor Ground, have contributed to a downward spiral which last year led to the UniBond League side being relegated.

This year the team narrowly avoided a second successive relegation, following a battling display against champions Bradford Park Avenue in front of Guiseley's highest attendance of the season - 367.