Biggleswade Town's Jonathan 'JJ' Lacey is waking up to find it wasn't all a dream after being crowned top scorer of the 2023/24 Emirates FA Cup.

The 25-year-old was awarded the Golden Ball Award in partnership with Mitre after scoring 10 goals during Biggleswade's FA Cup campaign this season and presented the match ball at May's final at Wembley.

The Pitching In Southern League Division One Central team played six games before they were knocked out of the competition in the fourth qualifying round but have continued to revel in the success of their attacking midfielder.

Lacey's goal scoring antics saw him beat the likes of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, Coventry City’s Ellis Simms and Ramsgate’s Joe Taylor to clinch the award in what he described as one of the biggest moments of his career.

"It's like a dream," he said. "The FA Cup brings everyone into the same bracket and to see my name against some of these players and to have been competing against them is amazing.

"This is probably the biggest moment of my career so far. It's right up there.

"Football has always been fun for me and I never had the opportunity to consider it too much as a job or career.

"Having the opportunity to play in this competition is something I never even thought about growing up and so to win this award is just a massive bonus and I'm very grateful to have the experience."

Lacey, who works as an architectural technologist outside of football, took up the sport aged four and has seen stints at Hemel Hempsted and Berkhamsted before signing for the Waders  in July 2023.

The midfielder has made it no secret that he loves to score on his journey to the Golden Ball and admitted that the second he found out he was in the running for the award, he was determined to make the unexpected happen.

"The second qualifying round we played Bishops Stortford away and I scored a hat-trick and then I scored again in the replay match," he said.

"After that, I randomly saw my name appear on a list that said I was in the running for Golden Ball and from there I was quite keen to keep scoring. It was in the back of my mind from there.

"Our last FA Cup game, we had Solihull Moors away and we new we were realistically never going to beat them, but I backed myself to score and I did.

"I guess that was the one that won this award for me."

The only player who could make a last-minute challenge on the Biggleswade player's claim as top goal scorer was Manchester City's Haaland but Lacey was already six goals ahead of the Norweigan even before the Emirates FA Cup Final and comfortably sealed the deal.

Lacey was presented by the award following the conclusion of the final at Wembley Stadium, invited along as a guest to watch the game and carry out the Mitre Ultimax Pro match ball for kick-off.

It's an opportunity Lacey was thrilled to share alongside his family and club and one that further fuelled his new dream of one day helping his side reach the first round of the Emirates FA Cup.

He said: "A few of the management and board were able to get to Wembley for the presentation as well as my family so overall this is a great recognition for the club and me.

"The FA Cup everything to the lower leagues. We all dream of having that FA Cup day out even if it's a later qualifying round or even getting to the first round.

"As a player I would love to reach the first round at one point but the opportunity the competition gives players and clubs by being able to compete each year is massive."

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