HE has scored four goals in the final, made three consecutive Wembley appearances and claimed a hat-trick of winners’ medals – meet Mr FA Vase.

If Bournemouth Poppies are to make their dreams a reality in the coming months, Paul Chow is the man to look to for inspiration.

When it comes to tasting the prestigious competition’s sweet success, nobody has feasted more heartily than Whitley Bay’s celebrated striker.

Tucked away on the fifth rung of English football’s non-league ladder, Chow is no longer hidden treasure.

Such is the South Shields-born frontman’s enviable Vase goalscoring record, he has become a household name on the semi-pro circuit.

The mere mention of Chow will send shivers down the spine of Poole Town fans after his hat-trick broke Dolphins hearts in last season’s semi-final. A scorer in every round in 2010-11, the reigning BBC Newcastle Player of the Year is at it again this time round, with six in three ties.

So if Poppies wish to progress beyond tomorrow’s fifth round clash at Billingham Synthonia – and line up a potential meeting with Chow and team-mates – they could do worse than listen to arguably the most successful player in Vase history.

“In the past three years, I have got four goals in three Wembley appearances, so it has certainly been something to remember,” Chow told the Daily Echo, with more than a hint of understatement in his voice.

“When you are a kid growing up watching FA Cup finals on the telly, you dream of having the chance to play at Wembley.

“To have it at our level, you expect the chance to get there to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But for us to have been there three times and to have retained the trophy on two occasions has been absolutely fantastic.

“We are favourites and I think that is probably just because of the Vase record. In the league, we are doing pretty well and are second top but teams have games in hand, so I think it will be hard to finish where we are currently. But for the Vase, we just seem to lift our game and, hopefully, that will continue.”

Chow knows better than most the task awaiting Poppies in the north east, as he regularly faces Synners in the Northern League Division One.

And he will be taking extra interest, with the winners of Bay’s game against title rivals West Auckland Town set to meet Poppies or Billingham in the quarter-finals.

Chow said: “Five out of the last 16 in the Vase are from our league so it is a very strong league. Synners are a team that will try to play football and they have one of the better surfaces in our division. It will be a tough game but, in the last 16, you don’t expect an easy game from anybody.”

Chow’s all-conquering Bay team boast the best record in the knockout competition’s history, with their recent treble taking to four the club’s overall Vase tally.

On the way to those successes, Chow and his pals were forced to travel far and wide.

And despite Poppies facing a mammoth 640-mile round trip, he believes it could work in the Bournemouth club’s favour.

“In years gone by, we have travelled the length and breadth of the country to the likes of Truro in one corner and Herne Bay in the other,” Chow added.

“We haven’t half put in the miles over the years. But it is a good way for the lads to get together and I think you build a better team spirit.

“The professional players train every day and travel all the time but, for part-time players, you seem to get a good bond when you go away.”

Poppies will be hoping Chow’s words are as accurate as his finishing.

• Poppies boss Ken Vaughan has named an unchanged squad for the club’s fifth round clash at Billingham Synthonia.

Poppies: (from) Vaughan, Crow, Jackson, Byrne, Daysh, Ingram, Cream, Rowley, Ewen, Hogan, Crutcher, Mena, Pinder, Phillipson-Masters, Frampton.